Certain 2013 Model Year Fusion Vehicles Driver Airbag Module Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT This program is being expanded to include VINs in the state of Texas in an effort to increase the number of parts returned for research.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Fusion airbags problems
critical Owners of the 2013 Ford Fusion have filed 91 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
91
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Fusion | 346 |
| 2010 Fusion | 548 |
| 2011 Fusion | 293 |
| 2012 Fusion | 395 |
| 2013 Fusion (this page) | 91 |
| 2014 Fusion | 35 |
| 2015 Fusion | 31 |
| 2016 Fusion | 37 |
| 2017 Fusion | 26 |
21crashes
1fire
16injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 91 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Fusion, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 91 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.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 2013 Model Year Fusion Vehicles Driver Airbag Module Replacement; Supplement 2 Labor and Parts Ordering Information
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2013 Model Year Fusion Vehicles - Driver Airbag Module Replacement: The program is a proactive effort to gather parts for research. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to replace certain airbag modules manufactured by Takata Corporation on vehicles always registered and always residing in Florida. The replacement module being installed contains an inflator that was manufactured by a different supplier (does not contain a Takata inflator) and does not contain ammonium nitrate. The purpose of this program is to obtain field parts for testing and evaluation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct categories of airbag failure in the 2013 Ford Fusion. First, airbag warning lights illuminate—sometimes intermittently, sometimes constantly—typically triggered by a faulty Restraints Control Module (RCM) or seat belt sensor. Dealers repeatedly cite that parts remain on national back-order for extended periods, often measured in months. Several owners describe being explicitly told their airbags will not function during a crash until the RCM is replaced, and some refused to drive the vehicle under those conditions.
Second, owners report airbags failing to deploy in actual crashes across a range of impact scenarios: head-on collisions, side impacts, rollover-adjacent accidents, and high-speed impacts. In multiple incidents, police and mechanics expressed surprise that airbags did not deploy given the violence of the impact. One owner struck a deer at 45 mph with $7,000 in front-end damage; neither the driver-side airbag nor seat belt pretensioner activated. Another totaled the car hitting railroad tracks at 40 mph with no airbag deployment. One incident resulted in a fatality when a low-speed (under 15 mph) collision with a concrete barrier caused all four airbags to deploy, with the driver-side airbag striking an elderly passenger's face, ultimately contributing to her death.
A third issue: when airbags do deploy, some cause injury—dashboard airbags forcing feet onto accelerator pedals, steering-wheel airbags showing delayed response. Seat belt sensors also fail intermittently, showing "off" warnings whether or not the seat is occupied. Recall parts scarcity compounds the problem: owners scheduled for recall repairs experience multi-month delays, with some never completing repairs.
Same Ford Fusion airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Restraints Control Module (RCM) Failure / Airbag Warning Light Illumination
The RCM develops a short circuit over time, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate (sometimes intermittently, sometimes continuously). The module may fail to communicate properly with airbag sensors. Dealers report the part is on national back-order for months at a time. Owners are told airbags will not function during a crash until the RCM is replaced.
When: 12,000 to 125,000+ miles; warning light issues reported from 2014 onwards
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or stays on continuously; Warning light may clear after restarting the vehicle, then return; Light may come on almost every time the vehicle is used; Frequency increases over time; Multiple diagnostic visits fail to resolve the issue permanently
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V597000, NHTSA Campaign 16V384000, Restraints Control Module short circuit
Repairs/costs cited: RCM replacement required; parts on national back-order for months (owners report 6-12+ month delays). Software download attempted by dealers but does not resolve the issue. Some owners waited until late 2015 for parts initially notified in 2014.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 14V597000 (issued September 2014); owners state Ford will not repair unless airbag light is illuminated; dealerships cite part unavailability and attribute delays to national supply constraints. Some owners required to sign acknowledgment that airbags will not work in a crash while awaiting parts.
Airbag Failure to Deploy in Crash Events
Airbags do not deploy in crashes across multiple impact scenarios including head-on collisions, side impacts, high-speed impacts, and multi-vehicle collisions. Owners and police officers state they were surprised airbags did not deploy given the severity of impact and vehicle damage.
When: Varies; impacts at 30-70 mph; one incident at low speed (under 15 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in head-on collision at 40 mph with front-driver impact; No airbag deployment in side T-bone collision (passenger side struck); No airbag deployment in deer strike at 45 mph with major front-end damage; No airbag deployment when hitting railroad tracks at 40 mph; No airbag deployment in multi-vehicle collision after loss of consciousness; Driver-side airbag does not deploy while passenger-side airbag deploys in same impact; No airbag deployment in 70 mph vehicle rollover onto embankment; No airbag deployment in rear-end collision pushing vehicle into head-on collision; Seat belt pretensioners also fail to activate in conjunction with airbag failure
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V597000, RCM short circuit (presumed cause in some cases, though not always confirmed)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed in crash-failure cases; vehicles totaled. One case involved multi-month repair attempt with no resolution. Owners report no visible damage to airbag components in some cases despite system failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In at least one case, manufacturer stated airbags 'may not have deployed because the other vehicle did not hit [the driver's side].' No manufacturer investigation documented in narratives. Ford declined investigation in one multi-impact case, directing owner to contact insurance company.
Seat Belt Sensor Malfunction
Seat belt sensors fail to detect whether the belt is properly inserted, causing false 'off' warnings on the passenger-side airbag indicator light. Sensors show 'off' indication regardless of seat occupancy or belt status.
When: Varies; reported across range of mileages (40,000 to 110,000+ miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag 'OFF' indicator stays illuminated even when seat is empty; Indicator illuminates when a passenger sits in the seat, even if light was previously off; Any movement by a passenger triggers the light to come on; Light comes on intermittently when the seat belt is properly connected; Indicator stays on despite proper seat belt insertion
Codes mentioned: Seat belt sensor failure, NHTSA Campaign 14V597000
Repairs/costs cited: Seat belt sensor replacement required. One owner cited $300+ cost for sensor replacement. Dealers unable to find service codes in some cases; owner advised to try diagnostic with person actually in seat.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner's VIN was stated as NOT included in NHTSA Campaign 14V597000, despite reporting seat belt sensor failure. Manufacturer offered no assistance in at least one case.
Erroneous Airbag Deployment
Airbag deploys without any crash or impact event, at normal driving speeds without cause. In one fatal case, all four airbags deployed at low speed (under 15 mph) into a concrete barrier, with driver-side airbag striking an elderly passenger's face.
When: One documented case at approximately 30 mph; one case at under 15 mph (fatal)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag deploys while driving at 30 mph with no crash or impact; All four airbags deploy at under 15 mph impact into concrete barrier; Airbag deployment causes injury to occupant face/head (fatal case)
Codes mentioned: Unknown cause (dealer could not determine in 30 mph case)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in low-speed deployment case. Dealer unable to diagnose cause of erroneous 30 mph deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case but response not documented. No recall issued for erroneous deployment. Medical examiner determined airbag deployment contributed to fatal injury (subdural hematoma, encephalopathy, uncal herniation) in low-speed collision.
Airbag Deployment Causing Secondary Injury
When airbags deploy, they cause additional injury by forcing driver's foot onto accelerator pedal or through delayed steering-wheel airbag response, exacerbating injury severity.
When: At 10 mph front-driver-side collision; multiple-impact accident
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard airbag deployment forces driver's foot onto accelerator pedal; Steering-wheel airbag shows delayed response to impact; Vehicle continues to accelerate due to foot-on-pedal after airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; injuries included fractured rib and right-hand injury requiring medical attention
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer opened case regarding failure; vehicle was destroyed and towed.
Recall Parts Unavailability / Delayed Repair
Owners receive recall notices (14V597000, 15V246000, 16V875000) but dealerships cannot schedule or complete repairs because replacement parts are on national back-order for extended periods—often 6-12+ months from recall issuance. Owners unable to get vehicles repaired for years in some cases.
When: Recall notices issued 2014-2016; repair delays extend through 2015-2018+
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; dealership unable to schedule repair appointment; Parts listed as unavailable, no delivery date known; Repeated calls to dealership result in same back-order status; Owners told to wait weeks/months for parts; delays extend beyond initial estimate; Multiple dealerships report same national back-order issue; Owner unable to pass vehicle inspection due to airbag light; One owner reported 1-year delay from recall notice to parts availability
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts), NHTSA Campaign 15V246000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages), NHTSA Campaign 15V250000 (Steering), NHTSA Campaign 15V256000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages), NHTSA Campaign 16V384000 (Air Bags), NHTSA Campaign 16V875000 (Seat Belts), NHTSA Campaign 14V579000 (Air Bags, Seats)
Repairs/costs cited: RCM (Restraints Control Module) replacement needed in multiple cases. Owners report parts scarcity affecting 300+ cases at single dealership; one dealership unable to verify when parts would arrive. Several owners refused to drive vehicles with inoperative airbags while awaiting parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued multiple recall campaigns (14V597000 beginning September 2014); dealerships informed owners parts on national back-order. One owner received letter stating parts would not be available until November-December (full year after notice in November 2014). Manufacturer did not provide interim transportation or alternative solutions documented in narratives.
Synthesized from 91 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford fusion. The contact stated that the drivers and the passengers side doors had to be opened and closed several times before the door latched. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v597000 (air bags , seat belts) and 15v246000 (latches/locks/linkages) however, the parts to do the repairs were…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Ford Fusion?
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 2013 Ford Fusion?
It's a serious issue. 91 complaints have been filed, including 21 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 46 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 18,000 and 61,215 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 61,215. 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/2013/Ford/Fusion.
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.