YearToAvoid

2011 Ford Mustang Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 125 airbag complaints for the 2011 Ford Mustang, 27% of all complaints for the year, linked to 9 crashes and 14 injuries. Median mileage at failure was 58,000. Four related airbag recalls exist, including Takata inflator campaigns marked do-not-drive.

Airbags complaints
125
27% of 466
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
14
Median mileage
58,000 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy in low-speed frontal or side-impact collisions, resulting in injuries to the head, neck, back, and knees.
  • Some owners describe airbags deploying unexpectedly during minor impacts, causing injuries and vehicle damage beyond the original collision.
  • Several complaints tie to the Takata recall, where owners took vehicles in for airbag module replacement after a crash or as a precaution.
  • Passenger-side airbag warning lights turn on intermittently even when a passenger is seated, sometimes linked to faulty airbag sensors or modules.
  • Owners report being told at dealerships that Takata recall replacement parts were on backorder for a year or longer.

When 2011 Ford Mustang airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 11, 2010, latest Dec 29, 2023.

2011 Ford Mustang airbags complaints: complaints filed per month11Nov 2010Aug 2015Feb 2016Aug 2016May 2017Nov 2017Jul 2018Jan 2020
125 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2010 to Dec 2023; peak Apr 2016 (11).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Ford Mustang

  1. NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

  2. NHTSA 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

  3. NHTSA 16V384000May 31, 2016Airbags1,892,343 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

  4. NHTSA 15V319000May 28, 2015Airbags1,018,622 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-802.

Airbags complaints by Mustang model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010178 (69%)
  2. 2011125 (27%)
  3. 2012158 (34%)
  4. 2013145 (54%)
  5. 2014245 (68%)
  6. 201523 (5%)
  7. 201615 (4%)
  8. 201710 (4%)
  9. 20182 (1%)
  10. 20191 (1%)
  11. 20208 (7%)
  12. 20212 (4%)
  13. 20221 (2%)
  14. 20231 (7%)
  15. 20246 (8%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 125 airbag complaints for the 2011 Mustang, which is 27% of all 466 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2011 Ford Mustang?
Yes. There are four related airbag recalls covering the 2011 Mustang, including campaigns 21V081000, 19V001000, 16V384000, and 15V319000, three of which are marked do-not-drive until repaired.
Did the airbag problems cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to these complaints shows 9 crashes and 14 injuries, with no fires reported.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2011 Mustang?
The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints is 58,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.