FaultScore

2001 Ford F-150 airbag problems

67 of the 1,451 complaints about the 2001 Ford F-150 are about the airbag system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 62,000 miles.

F

67

Complaints

50

Crashes

5

Fires

32

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 40 59.7%
AIR Bags 22 32.8%
Sensor/Control Module 2 3.0%
Side/Window 2 3.0%
On-Off Switch Assembly 1 1.5%

Airbags across every Ford F-150 year

1994 101 8.5%
1995 37 3.1%
1996 24 2.0%
1997 100 8.4%
1998 42 3.5%
1999 75 6.3%
2000 70 5.9%
2001 67 5.6%
2002 37 3.1%
2003 29 2.4%
2004 84 7.0%
2005 106 8.9%
2006 49 4.1%
2007 27 2.3%
2008 28 2.3%
2009 12 1.0%
2010 19 1.6%
2011 16 1.3%
2012 38 3.2%
2013 39 3.3%
2014 31 2.6%
2015 34 2.9%
2016 34 2.9%
2017 22 1.8%
2018 37 3.1%
2019 24 2.0%
2020 10 0.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Weeki Wachee, FL

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11143046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

IN 2006 I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION WHERE I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND WE WERE FORCED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. IT RESULTED IN SEVERAL PEOPLE BEING SENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO VEHICLES AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! I HAD A BROKEN RIB FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEVERE WHIPLASH RESULTING IN A SURGERY THAT LEFT ME IN SERIOUS LIFE LONG PAIN. THE SURGERY CONSISTED OF 12 PINS, 10 SCREWS, 4CADAVOR DISKS AND FUSION OF 5 LEVELS OF MY NECK. MY DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I BELIEVE IF IT HAD WORKED PROPERLY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE HIT ME FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AS I WAS AT A STOP IN A ON THE HIGHWAY. THE IMPACT FORCED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ESTIMATED SPEED OF THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME FROM BEHIND WAS BETWEEN 65 AND 75 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11064147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 137,000 miles Morton, PA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

IT WAS RAINING, THE HIGHWAY WAS WET, AND I WAS DRIVING AT OR BELOW THE RATED SPEED LIMIT. WHAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF WAS THE FLOODING ON THE HIGHWAY. MY TRUCK HIT THE 2-FEET WATER, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL, HIT THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE TRUCK FLIPPING ON ITS ROOF. MINOR INJURIES AND THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE WERE ON SITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IS A TOTAL LOSS, AS PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED USED, I HAVE HAD IT FOR 10+ YEARS, FULLY MAINTAINED, AND IT HAS 137,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #11042590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Leland, NC Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON BLACK ICE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #10690813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Greenville, MS Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PILE OF ROCKS AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10462749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Pontiac, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. FORM RETURNED NO CHANGE

NHTSA complaint #10413427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,617 miles Elgin, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACTS SON CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HIT HIS HEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO BE DELIVERED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE BUMPER, HOOD AND THE RADIATOR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,617. UPDATED 06/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/16/10.

NHTSA complaint #10327761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,644 miles Elverta, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I HAD JUST TURNED RIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW 4 HEAD LIGHTS. THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS PASSING IN A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE SECTION OF THE ROAD MARKED FOR 45 MPH. WE HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHERE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HIS DID.

NHTSA complaint #10303495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Williamsburg, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 09/23/09 IN MY HUSBAND'S 2001 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK. WE HIT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RAN A STOP SIGN. WE HIT HIM GOING APPROX 55 MPH. THE TRUCKS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE BEEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS TRUCK AND OUR COMPLAINT IS...WHEN YOU BUY A PRODUCT, YOU EXPECT THE SAFETY FEATURES TO WORK. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OR AIRBAG SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND TRUCK IS TOTALED. THE IMPACT DESTROYED THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. THE EMT'S AND FIREMAN ON SCENE SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY WITH THE IMPACT THAT WE HAD SUSTAINED AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYING.

NHTSA complaint #10285662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,346 miles NEW Braunfels, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2001 FORD F-150 FLEETSIDE INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION. AIRBAGS FAILD TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10226448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,809 miles Glen Saint Mary, FL Crash

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,809.

NHTSA complaint #10192378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dublin, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2001 F150 AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS

NHTSA complaint #10158422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plano, TX

AIR BAGS

2001 F150 CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE MALFUNCTION PREVENTED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FROM WORKING PROPERLY. *TS IT ALSO CAUSED A DISRUPTION OF POWER TO THE AIR BAG MODULE THUS PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY WAS FOR 60 MONTHS/75000 MILES. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60299 MILES YET THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED TEN DAYS EARLIER. A MONTH BEFORE THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FORD RECALL REPAIR OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT THE AIR BAG AND HORN AT THAT TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD TO RETURN WITH THE TRUCK AT A LATER TIME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REPAIR THAT ITEM RIGHT THEN.

NHTSA complaint #10157366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Park Rapids, MN Fire

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, WHILE PULLING SLOWLY OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 25MPH. SHORTLY AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ERUPTED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE DRIVER WITH SNOW FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE POLICE NOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DETERMINED THE DEPLOYMENT WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER ONLY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE AIRBAGS WERE REMOVED BY THE CONTACT AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING USED "AS IS."

NHTSA complaint #10155783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,786 miles Chandler, AZ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AFTER SUSTAINING A FRONT END COLLISION, WHERE I SQUARELY IMPACTED THE REAR END OF SLOWLY MOVING LARGE 4 DOOR CAR, NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IMPACT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, FORCING THE FRONT GRILL BACK AND THE BUMPER DOWN ENOUGH TO IMPEDE THE STEERING OF THE FORD F-150.

NHTSA complaint #10118052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,066 miles Appleton, WI

AIR BAGS

MY WIFE AND I WERE VISTING MY PARENTS WHEN WE WERE HEADING HOME. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BEATS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THIS AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT REPAIR COVER THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10116390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Park Hills, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S LANE. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #10115107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Porter, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

A PERSON PULLED OUT ON ME FROM MY RIGHT. I HIT THEIR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. MORE THAN A FOOT OF MY FRAME WAS STICKING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. HOOD FOLDED. DRIVERS DOOR JAMMED SHUT, DASH PUSHED TOWARDS ME.MY AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT. MY TRUCK WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE STATE TROOPERRS, COUNTY CONSTABLE,EMS PERSONEL AND WRECKER DRIVERS ALL TOLD ME I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT BEEN MORE SEVERELY INJURED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THAY SAID WITH THE LOCATION OF IMPACT, SPEED (55) AND TYPE OF IMPACT THEY DEFINATELY SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF. I HIT MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND BREAST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND I STILL CANNOT RISE MY RIGHT ARM. I HAVE MUTIPLE CONTUSIONS ON MY RIGHT BREAST WHICH RESUTED IN A LARGE BLOOD CLOT FORMING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE SUGICALLY REMOVED. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY NECK HURTS VERY BAD AND SHOOTS PAIN UP BEHIND MY EAR. I STAY WITH A HEADACHE. I AM UNDER A PHYSICIANS CARE AT THIS TIME AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10110083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED. AS RESULT, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10089343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syracuse, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ANYTIME AND AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT ABS PUMP AND MODULE WERE THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #10080151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cedar Park, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW LARIAT ON 4/14/04. HE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DODGE NEON GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 35 MPH. THE SAFETY BELT DID NOT LATCH NOR DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MY HUSBANDS BEING THROWN FORWARD AND HITTING HIS HEAD AT GREAT FORCE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORCE OF THE CRASH TOTALLED MY TRUCK, CRACKING AND BENDING THE FRAME. HAD EITHER SAFETY FEATURE WORKED, MY HUSBAND WOULD NOT BE INJURED TODAY. FOUR WEEKS LATER HE SUFFERS FROM SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, EXTREME ANGER AND MOOD SWINGS AND HAS SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO HIS NECK AND VERTEBRAE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *AK RQ04011.*PCO

NHTSA complaint #10072573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grenada, MS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10071718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Park Rapids, MN

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING IN THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10065153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syracuse, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICE D AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT ABS PUMP AND MODULE WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10063025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oregon City, OR Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE STOPPING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 45-50 MPH. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10059240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Oregon City, OR Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, PUSHING IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10059183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Trenton, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10053444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles South Bend, IN Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE ,AND THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED.

NHTSA complaint #10049882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Wheeling, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NOSE AND BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10044252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,305 miles Michigan City, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ACCELERATED AROUND A CORNER AND HIT THE TREE HEAD ON.

NHTSA complaint #10042030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Ford F-150 problems

← Full 2001 Ford F-150 report