YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Mustang Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 145 airbag complaints for the 2013 Ford Mustang, 54% of all complaints for the year, with 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 7 injuries reported. Three airbag recalls apply to this model year, including a Takata inflator recall marked do-not-drive.

Airbags complaints
145
54% of 271
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
25,000 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Driver's side frontal airbag ruptures on deployment, sending metal shrapnel and shards into the cabin during low-speed crashes.
  • Airbag deployment during minor collisions (around 15 mph) causes burns to the driver from the exploding module.
  • Passenger or driver airbag fails to deploy at all during a rear-end or side impact, leaving occupants without protection.
  • Owners report smoke or fragments entering the cabin after the driver airbag fires, even in low-speed rear-end impacts.
  • Owners waiting on the 15V319000 Takata recall report parts being unavailable for extended periods, with some choosing not to drive the car at all.
  • Unrelated traction-control warning lights preceded a loss of control in one report, followed by airbag deployment on impact with a barrier.

When 2013 Ford Mustang airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 25, 2014, latest Aug 26, 2025.

2013 Ford Mustang airbags complaints: complaints filed per month13Aug 2014Dec 2015Jun 2016Dec 2016Jun 2017Apr 2018Dec 2018
145 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2014 to Aug 2025; peak Apr 2016 (13).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 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 18V046000Jan 11, 2018Airbags327,796 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 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 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles 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 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 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. 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 2013 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 145 airbag complaints for the 2013 Ford Mustang, which is 54% of the 271 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2013 Ford Mustang?
Yes. NHTSA lists three airbag recalls that cover the 2013 Mustang: campaign 18V046000, campaign 15V319000, and campaign 21V081000. Two of these, including the Takata inflator recall, are marked do-not-drive.
What injuries or crashes are linked to these airbag complaints?
NHTSA records show 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 7 injuries associated with the 145 airbag complaints for the 2013 Mustang.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 25,000 miles.
How does the 2013 Mustang compare to other years for airbag complaints?
The 2013 Mustang's 145 airbag complaints (54% share) is lower than 2014's 245 complaints (68% share) but higher than 2015's 23 complaints (5% share), based on NHTSA data.

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.