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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Ford Ranger airbags problems
severe 231 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
231
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 231 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Ranger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Airbags accounts for 87% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 231 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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.
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
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2007 Ford Rangers are caught in a multi-year parts shortage tied to the Takata airbag inflator recall (NHTSA 16V384, 17V024, 14V024). Starting in June 2016, Ford sent recall notification letters, but replacement parts never reached dealerships in meaningful quantities. Owners called dealerships multiple times over weeks and months—they were told parts would arrive "in two weeks," then "August or September," then "December," then the dealer claimed no knowledge of the recall at all. Some dealers used their last part on another customer and had nothing for the next owner on the waiting list.
Takata, the inflator maker, filed for bankruptcy during the recall, crushing parts supply. Ford sent owners postcards announcing this but couldn't say when (or if) parts would arrive. Owners were stuck: recall notices marked the vehicles as unsafe, but with no parts available and no firm timeline, many kept driving anyway—some transporting grandchildren, some making medical runs. One owner was hit by another driver while waiting; both airbags deployed and the passenger suffered a concussion and ongoing migraines. Another reported an airbag warning light illuminating intermittently while driving, yet dealers still had no remedy. One recall was completed but left a grinding noise in the airbag compartment; the dealer couldn't fix it and refused to let another dealer redo the work. Owners were frustrated, anxious, and felt abandoned by both dealerships and Ford Motor Company.
Same Ford Ranger airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator defect
Defective Takata airbag inflators affecting driver and passenger side airbags. Takata filed for bankruptcy during the recall period, creating supply chain collapse. The inflators have a known risk of rupturing and projecting metal fragments into the vehicle cabin during deployment, causing serious injury or death.
When: Recalls issued starting June 2016 (NHTSA 16V384, 16V024, 14V024); vehicles recalled through at least August 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminating intermittently while driving; Known defect per NHTSA safety recalls
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V384000, NHTSA 17V024000, NHTSA 14V024000, Manufacturer recall 16S26, Manufacturer recall 16B15
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of airbag inflator required. No repair costs cited because parts were unavailable—vehicles could not be repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recalls 16V384, 17V024, 14V024 issued. Takata (TK Holdings) filed for bankruptcy during recall period. Ford issued recall notification letters but replacement parts remained unavailable for years after recall issuance.
Parts availability and recall delay crisis
Systematic unavailability of replacement airbag inflator parts at Ford dealerships nationwide. Owners received recall notification letters years before parts became available. Dealers repeatedly told owners parts would arrive in weeks or months, then changed dates or claimed no knowledge of recall. Owners waited months to years without resolution. Ford could not provide estimated delivery dates. Multiple dealers across all U.S. regions reported parts unavailable.
When: Recall notices issued June 2016 through July 2018; parts shortages persisted through at least November 2017 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Cannot schedule recall appointment—parts unavailable at dealer; Dealer provides incorrect or constantly changing timelines for parts arrival; Multiple dealers in same region have no parts in stock; Dealer claims no knowledge of recall despite recall notification sent to manufacturer; No waiting list offered; no priority system communicated to owners
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V384000, NHTSA 17V024000, Parts distribution disconnect
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed on majority of reported vehicles. One owner (narrative #3) had recall performed but airbag compartment developed grinding noise afterward; dealer could not fix it and refused to remove the faulty part to allow repair at another dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued recall notifications (16S26, 16B15) and directed owners to dealers. Ford stated it had no authority to override dealer decisions. Takata bankruptcy filing announced to owners via postcard. Ford could not provide parts availability estimates. One owner after recall was completed reported airbag warning light illuminated during waiting period and dealer stated parts still unavailable.
Airbag deployment injury
Deployed airbags during accident caused injury to passenger. Owner was involved in collision with another vehicle and both driver and passenger airbags deployed. Passenger sustained concussion and ongoing migraines. Owner alleges the defective Takata inflators contributed to injury severity.
When: Owner was notified of recall early 2016, collision occurred while waiting for recall repair (specific accident date not provided)
Symptoms owners cite: Both driver and passenger airbags deployed during motor vehicle collision; Passenger diagnosed with concussion; Passenger experiencing ongoing migraines post-deployment
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V384000 (airbag inflator defect)
Repairs/costs cited: Airbags deployed during accident; vehicle not repaired, owner's concern is whether defective Takata inflators increased injury severity
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented for this accident outcome
Synthesized from 231 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 19 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called solomon Ford (502 national pike w, brownsville, pa 15417) and was informed that the parts were…
Takata recall - received a notice from Ford that remedy parts for airbag inflator replacement will be delayed until spring of 2018. In the meantime, do not allow anyone to sit in the first row passenger seat. Big problem for us as this is our only vehicle and we must have a two-seater vehicle every day. Dealership refuses to provide a loaner or rental.
Takata recall: parts have not been available for repair for 2 years and we only have a front seat vehicle. Our children are at risk when driving in our vehicle. We contacted local dealer upon immediate notice and the parts were never available. We cannot afford a new car. What are my rights?
Takata airbag recall in effect on my vehicle for several years with no further contact by Ford or my area dealers to replace the air bags.
The passenger frontal airbag inflator could rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash where the supplemental frontal airbags are designed to deploy. This defect report is in response to takata dirs 16e-042, 16e-043, 16e-044.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v3840000 (air bags). The dealer (central motors, 1520 Ford dr, el centro, ca 92243, 760-336-2100) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called penske Ford (560 auto park dr, chula vista, ca 91911) and was informed that the part to do the…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted (community Ford Lincoln in bloomington, in, 812-331-2200) and confirmed that the parts were…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Blue springs Ford (3200 nw south outer rd, blue springs, mo 64015, (816) 229-4400) was contacted and confirmed that…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Alexander Ford in yuma, arizona was made aware of the recall and stated that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer…
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Ford Ranger?
It's a meaningful issue. 231 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 51,087 and 106,480 miles, with the median around 81,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,087; a quarter make it past 106,480. 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/2007/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.