Of the 172 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Ranger,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (33.3%)
100-125k
2 (66.7%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
Airbags accounts for 63% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
All 9 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that 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
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.
Fix: 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S03. Note: This recall supersedes 14V-343 and only applies to Rangers manufactured in North America.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S02.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S02.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-036 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V322 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S22. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-787.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall
An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V-306.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall
An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 23V-125.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin22B05 S1Jul 2023
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT ⢠Updated Ranger Technical Information to include images of a pass and fail airbag inflator inspection for 2007-2011 model years.
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection: Ford Motor Company has determined that some vehicles claimed by dealers as repaired under Takata Airbag Safety Recalls 15S21, 17S42, 18S02, 19S01, and 21S12 may not have received the claimed repairs. The propellant in certain Takata airbag inflators can experience an alteration over time with exposure to certain climate conditions. A combination of time, high temperature fluctuations, and humidity contribute to the degradation of the propellant in the inflators. This degradation can cause the
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Ford Ranger airbag complaints break into two distinct issues. First, the Takata inflator recall—spanning multiple campaigns from 2015 through 2018—has created a widespread logistics failure. Owners report that dealers consistently lack replacement parts despite recall notices telling them the vehicle is unsafe to drive. Many waited months or over a year without resolution. Ford's recall notices instructed owners not to drive vehicles and promised loaner vehicles, yet dealers either refused loaners or limited them to two days, forcing owners to choose between driving unsafe vehicles or losing transportation. Several owners report towing reimbursement disputes and contradictory information from Ford customer service and dealers about parts availability. A small subset of narratives document serious failures: airbags deploying without impact (causing crashes and injuries), airbags failing to deploy during actual collisions (resulting in severe injuries), and one fatality involving metal shrapnel from a Takata inflator canister. One owner received replacement inflators in 2016 only to get a recall notice years later saying those same parts were defective. Recall-completion documentation failures also appear—dealers claiming repairs were done while systems show recalls still open, creating insurance complications for owners.
Same Ford Ranger airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Takata-supplied airbag inflators prone to rupture during deployment, risking metal shrapnel penetration and occupant injury or death. Multiple overlapping recall campaigns (15V322, 16V036, 17V788000, 18V023000, 21V081000) issued 2015–2018.
When: Recalls issued early 2015 through early 2018; some owners still unresolved by mid-2023
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle received recall notice stating inflator unsafe; Owner reports inflators replaced in prior recall now subject to new recall; Airbag deployed without impact while vehicle stopped at red light; Airbag failed to deploy during collision impact; Metal shrapnel from inflator canister penetrating occupant
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of driver and/or passenger frontal airbag inflators. Parts consistently unavailable at dealer network; repairs delayed months or years. One owner reports replacement parts furnished in 2016 subsequently identified as defective in later recall. One fatal injury involved shrapnel; multiple non-fatal injuries from spontaneous deployment or deployment failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued multiple recall campaigns and recall notices instructing owners not to drive vehicle pending repair. Notices stated Ford would arrange towing and provide loaner vehicle at no cost. In practice: parts unavailable; dealers denied loaners or limited to 2 days; towing reimbursement disputes; conflicting information between dealers and Ford customer service. TK Holdings (Takata supplier) filed bankruptcy during recall period.
Parts distribution and recall completion failure
Widespread inability of dealer network to obtain replacement parts despite recall notices promising availability. Multiple owners report months or years of waiting while being told parts are on backorder or unavailable. Some received conflicting messages—recall notice stating parts available, but dealer confirms no parts in stock. Recall tracking systems showing recalls incomplete even after dealer claims work performed.
When: Early 2016 through mid-2023; most acute 2017–2018
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; appointment scheduled; Dealer informs owner parts not available and no ETA; Owner called back multiple times over months with no progress; Recall notice says do not drive vehicle; owner has no transportation alternative; Ford customer service unable to confirm parts availability or provide date; Recall database shows recall uncompleted despite dealer documentation of repair; Loaner vehicle offered in recall notice not provided by dealer, or limited to 2 days
Repairs/costs cited: Towing costs ranged $185 (documented example); owners sought reimbursement from dealers without success. One owner settled for 50% reimbursement after year-long dispute. Some owners unable to reach Ford customer service or received automated hang-ups. One dealer offered interim remedy while waiting for permanent parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued recall notices but failed to ensure parts supply to dealers. Multiple owners report calling Ford 1-800-392-3673 and encountering automated systems that hung up or placed them on hold indefinitely. Corporate customer service referred callers back to dealers who had no parts. TK Holdings bankruptcy filing cited by multiple owners as complicating parts supply.
Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact
Driver and/or passenger airbags deployed while vehicle was stationary or during normal driving with no collision, causing loss of control and secondary crashes.
When: Documented 2018, 2021 (narrative #6 states 2021 incident; narrative #7 specific mileage 220,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Both airbags deployed while vehicle stopped at red light; Airbag deployed while driver making slight wheel turn at normal speed; Loss of vehicle control immediately following deployment; Collision into another vehicle or roadside object
Codes mentioned:NHTSA Campaign 17V788000
Repairs/costs cited: One occupant (driver) removed airbags with pocket knife after deployment. Vehicle taken to resident; dealer refused to diagnose or repair under recall until SRS system and passenger seat belt repaired first. Owner sustained shoulder and neck injuries; second vehicle occupant sustained back injury.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented. Manufacturer notified; case transferred to NHTSA Hotline. No recall issued specifically for spontaneous deployment; owner covered under general Takata inflator recall campaigns.
Airbag failure to deploy during collision
Airbags failed to deploy during actual vehicle collision causing occupant injury. One documented case involved significant impact after recall repair had been performed.
When: Documented collision occurred after recall repair completed under campaign 21V081000
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle struck from front during collision; Airbags did not deploy despite impact sufficient to cause injury; Occupant sustained neck injury requiring medical attention; Vehicle destroyed and towed
Codes mentioned:NHTSA Campaign 21V081000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle previously repaired under recall 21V081000. No other repairs or costs documented. Occupant transported by family member for medical evaluation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not documented. Occupant expressed concern that airbag failed to deploy after recall repair, suggesting repair may not have been effective or correct part installed.
Fatal airbag inflator rupture with metal shrapnel
Takata inflator canister ruptured during deployment, expelling metal shrapnel that penetrated occupant's neck fatally.
When: December 22, 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed following collision (vehicle struck cow in roadway); Metal shrapnel from inflator canister; Penetrating neck wound
Repairs/costs cited: Occupant remained in driver seat after initial collision; metal fragments from inflator caused fatal neck wound. Death certificate and autopsy report confirm shrapnel as cause of death. South Carolina Highway Patrol MAIT team investigation ongoing at time of complaint (narrative #9).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response from Ford documented in complaint narrative. Case referred to legal representation for family.
Synthesized from 172 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
13 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/29/2017
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v788000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer (simi valley Ford, 2440 first st, simi valley, ca 93065, (805) 583-0333) scheduled an appointment for january 13, 2018. The dealer stated that…
airbags
· filed 12/27/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford ranger. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15v322000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
airbags
· filed 12/27/2016
We have not heard anymore about this recall, and hesitate to drive it, especially out on the highway system.
airbags
· filed 12/27/2016
Takata recall, recall has been open for almost a year with no remedy available.. Remedy not completed in a timely manner.
airbags
· filed 12/23/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v322000 (air bags) and 16v036000 (air bags). The parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a…
airbags
· filed 12/12/2016
Takata recall - I see a news story that some of this recall in texas will be expedited, it seems like my vehicle would be applicable for this. But the ntsb VIN check website still says "recall status: recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available" I would like to know why my vehicle is not included in this new expedited effort for texas vehicles. *tr
airbags
· filed 12/09/2016
Takata recall, I have been waiting for almost a year for a replacement for my driver's side airbag. I received my recall notice on february 2016. My passenger side bag was replaced in 2015. I do not feel safe driving this truck.
airbags
· filed 12/05/2018
Yankee pest control 20 waite ct, malden, ma 02148 no longer owns the vehicle. Safty recall for air bags needs to go to new owner. I filled out forms & sent in, but keep getting the very urgent noticessssssssss. (note: if there was an email or phone # on the recall notice, I would have used that. But as much as I try, I cant get this notice to the right person. (which is not my job...…
airbags
· filed 12/04/2015
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford ranger. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15v322000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
airbags · 75,000 mi
· filed 12/01/2015
Takata recall I received a letter in july 2015 telling me about the safety recall and today december 01 2015 they still have no replacement parts available. Why are they not being forced to take care of this?
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Ford Ranger?
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 2006 Ford Ranger?
It's a serious issue. 172 complaints have been filed, including 9 reports involving a crash and 3 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 60,121 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 89,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,121; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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?
Yes — 9 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2006/Ford/Ranger.
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.