The car was started then it was being shifted from park to drive, the driver side air bag went off, before getting it in to drive (made it to neutral).this happened in the driveway.
2005 Ford Taurus airbags problems
critical 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
13crashes
14injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 23 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Ford Taurus we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2005 Taurus airbags are unpredictable: they deploy without crashes, fail to deploy in actual crashes, sensors corrode and disable the system, and occupant-detection features don't work reliably. Expect diagnostic headaches and repair costs Ford won't warranty.
The 2005 Taurus airbag system shows three core problems across these 23 complaints.
First, unintended deployments happen without impact. Owners describe steering-wheel airbags firing while backing slowly in parking lots, side airbags firing while driving straight on highways, and driver airbags deploying during gear shifts in driveways. These caused facial contusions, neck injuries, and thousands in damage. When taken to dealers, Ford requested modules for analysis but never provided explanations or repairs. Ford also told some owners the car was out of warranty and declined responsibility.
Second, airbags fail to deploy in actual crashes from 15 to 70 mph. Multiple owners experienced front-end collisions, rear-end impacts, and side-door hits where airbags didn't fire. Injuries ranged from head trauma and facial lacerations to sternum injuries and fatalities. Dealers never performed diagnostics on these failures.
Third, the front crash sensor fails around 54,000 to 65,400 miles—well before the 5-year/50,000-mile warranty on the sensor itself runs out. The illuminated warning light disables the entire airbag system. Owner reports indicate this is common, especially in corrosive salt climates in the Northeast.
Additionally, the passenger-seat weight monitor intended to disable airbags for small children doesn't work: it deploys despite light 60-pound children and fails to indicate when the seat is empty.
Same Ford Taurus airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended airbag deployment
Airbag deploys without impact or in non-crash situations, causing injuries and vehicle damage. Owners report deployments while driving straight on highways, backing up slowly in parking lots, and starting the vehicle in the driveway.
When: 64,000 to 51,000 miles; varies from low-speed maneuvers to highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag deploys while backing up without impact; Side airbag deploys on straight road without skidding; Driver airbag deploys during gear shift from park to neutral in driveway; Facial contusions, scalp contusions, neck injuries, and hand/arm injuries from deployments
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer requested airbag module be sent to Ford for diagnosis; no repairs completed or explanations provided in cases reviewed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford claimed unaware of airbag problems; out-of-warranty claims denied
Airbag fails to deploy in crashes
Airbags do not deploy during actual vehicle crashes with significant impact, ranging from front-end collisions to rear-end impacts and side-door collisions. Owners suffered injuries that could have been mitigated by proper deployment.
When: 54,000 to 137,000 miles; occurs during crash events at speeds of 15–70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Driver and passenger airbags fail to deploy in front-end crashes; Side airbag fails to deploy in driver's-door collision; Passenger airbag fails to deploy despite front-end impact; Driver injuries including facial lacerations, head injuries, sternum injuries, and fatal injuries
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not inspected by dealers or mechanics to diagnose cause; some vehicles totaled
Front crash sensor failure
Safety restraint system light illuminates due to failed crash sensor, disabling airbag function. Owners report this as a common failure, particularly in areas with salt corrosion. Sensor failure occurs well before warranty expiration and renders airbags inoperative.
When: 54,000 to 65,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Safety restraint system warning light illuminates; Airbag system disabled with warning light active; Owner notified that airbags will not deploy while light is illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: $400 repair cost cited for crash sensor replacement; sensor not covered under warranty (5 years/50,000 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Ford informed owner that airbags will not deploy if warning light is illuminated
Passenger airbag occupant detection failure
Weight sensor and occupant detection system malfunctions prevent the 'Passenger Airbag Off' safety feature from working correctly. System fails to disable airbag for small children or fail to indicate when seat is empty, defeating the purpose of the safety feature that owners relied on.
When: Occurs during normal vehicle operation; no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag deploys despite small child in seat weighing approximately 60 pounds; Passenger 'Airbag Off' light does not illuminate when seat is empty; Light only illuminates briefly at startup then goes off, rather than remaining on when seat is empty; Light does not activate correctly when small child is seated
Clock spring failure
Clock spring component breaks prematurely, disabling driver-side airbag and cruise control function. Owner reports failure at low mileage with expectation that part should last vehicle lifetime.
When: 51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing airbag diagnostic code on dashboard; Clock spring identified as broken via diagnostic code; Driver-side airbag disabled; Cruise control disabled
Codes mentioned: Clock spring failure code
Intermittent airbag warning light
Airbag warning light illuminates and extinguishes repeatedly over time, appearing and disappearing whether vehicle is stationary or in motion, regardless of turning or straight-line driving. Creates uncertainty about airbag system status.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light flashes on dashboard for days at a time; Light goes off for period then illuminates again; Pattern continues on city streets and highways; Occurs both while turning and driving straight
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint references Takata recall
Steering wheel noise and Takata concern
Owner experiences noise described as rocks rolling around inside steering wheel after moving to extreme heat environment. Owner suspects Takata airbag defect but cannot get Ford to identify airbag type via VIN.
When: After 6 years in Arizona extreme heat; vehicle likely 12+ years old at complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Sound of rocks rolling internally when turning wheel sharply; Intermittent occurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford unable to identify airbag type in vehicle using VIN
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Dt: the contact stated a garbage truck pulled out in front of the contact's son's vehicle causing a rear end collision at 50 MPH. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. All occupants were wearing seat belts. The contact hit the steering wheel and sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was totaled, and a police report was a taken. There has been no inspection to determine why the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Ford Taurus?
It's a serious issue. 23 complaints have been filed, including 13 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 53,824 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 65,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 53,824; a quarter make it past 98,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.