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Ford Airbag Recalls Involving Deployment Failures and Loose Components
Improper airbag deployment repeats across these Ford notices, with side and curtain airbags prominent. Explorer appears in separate notices for loose attachments on certain 2020 vehicles and detachable weld studs on certain 2021 vehicles. Mustang appears for incorrect curtain-airbag gas quantities on certain 2021 vehicles and insufficient passenger knee-airbag welds on certain 2021-2022 vehicles. Bronco notices address a passenger-airbag vent on certain 2021 vehicles and unsecured side-impact sensors on certain 2021-2022 vehicles. Other notices cover Escape curtain-airbag components, missing frontal-airbag booster propellant in EcoSport and Transit Connect, Super Duty airbag covers, front-door sensors, and Maverick curtain airbags. The supplied examples concentrate on 2020-2022 model years.
Warning signs to watch for
- 22S77, certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles: improperly secured side-impact sensors may cause unintended airbag deployment.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of the supplied Ford airbag notices carries a stop-driving or park-outside instruction. The Escape and Transit curtain-airbag notices do not tell owners to stop driving, nor do the Explorer attachment notices. The EcoSport and Transit Connect, Bronco, Mustang, Maverick, and Super Duty notices likewise do not tell owners to stop driving. The notice covering front-door side-impact sensors in certain F-150, Expedition, Super Duty, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles also does not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
The listed airbag replacements are free of charge: 17S44 replaces side curtain airbags as necessary; 21C19 replaces side airbag assemblies; 21C37 replaces curtain airbags; 22S07 replaces the passenger knee airbag; and 22C20 installs redesigned curtain-airbag modules. Separately, 21C26 replaces front-door side-impact sensors, while 22S77 inspects sensor attachments and repairs as necessary, also free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 14 |
Models affected most
Where owners report air bags problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under air bags for the Ford models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Air bags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2022 Ford Maverick | 9 |
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | 1 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2026 | Ford Bronco Sport Passenger Detection May Fail | high |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Airbag Force Defect | high |
| Dec 14, 2022 | Bronco side airbag sensor may be loose | high |
| Aug 8, 2022 | Ford Maverick Side-Curtain Air Bags May Not Deploy | high |
| Feb 16, 2022 | Ford Mustang Passenger Knee Air Bag Weld Issue | high |
| Dec 16, 2021 | Ford Mustang side airbags may not inflate properly | high |
| Nov 24, 2021 | Ford Super Duty driver airbag cover may break apart | high |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Ford Expedition and Navigator Side Air Bags May Fail | high |
| Oct 1, 2021 | Ford Bronco passenger airbag may deploy improperly | high |
| Aug 23, 2021 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Side Airbag Weld Defect | high |
| Dec 17, 2020 | Ford EcoSport, Transit Connect Airbag Missing Booster Propellant | high |
| Aug 21, 2020 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Airbag Bolts Loose | high |
| Jul 17, 2020 | Ford Escape and Transit Side Airbags May Fail | high |
| Dec 18, 2017 | Ford Escape Side Curtain Airbag Part May Detach | high |
Common questions
Why do these Mustang notices describe different airbag repairs?
Campaign 21C37 concerns incorrect compressed-gas quantities in side curtain airbag inflators on certain 2021 Mustangs. Campaign 22S07 concerns an insufficient passenger knee-airbag weld on certain 2021-2022 Mustangs. Each notice specifies replacement of the airbag affected by its particular defect.
What airbag problems are listed for the Ford Bronco?
One notice covers certain 2021 Broncos whose passenger-airbag vent could open prematurely during deployment. Campaign 22S77 covers certain 2021-2022 Broncos with potentially unsecured side-impact sensors, which may cause unintended deployment or failure to deploy as intended.
Does the Explorer airbag remedy always involve replacement?
The 2020 Explorer attachment notice specifies removing the relevant front seatback panels and verifying fastener tightness. For certain 2021 Explorers, campaign 21C19 specifies replacing side airbag assemblies because attachment weld studs could detach during deployment. Both remedies are free.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.