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2013 Ford Mustang airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2013 Ford Mustang have filed 143 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 28,484 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
Q1 9kmed 28kQ3 40kn=18
Complaints
143
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$1,100
airbags complaints on the Ford Mustang, by model year
Of the 143 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Mustang,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
3 (60%)
25-50k
1 (20%)
50-75k
1 (20%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
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 53% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 143 airbags complaints against 1 active recall — roughly 143 complaints per campaign.
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
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants 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 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.
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 Bulletin22B05Mar 2022
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 Takata recall (NHTSA 15V319000, issued May 2015) centers on driver and passenger airbag inflators prone to rupture under heat and humidity, showering metal shrapnel on occupants in a crash. By far the dominant complaint pattern is recall repair delay—owners received recall notices in mid-2015 and called dealerships repeatedly over years only to be told "parts unavailable." Ford initially promised Q2 2016, then Q4 2016, then Q2 2017, then gave no estimate. Many owners reported waiting 12–36 months with no timeline and no parts arrival even into 2018. Some stopped driving the car to avoid the hazard; others were trapped—no rental support, unable to trade or sell without repair, forced to make payments on a parked vehicle. A few owners received conflicting messages: Ford said one supervisor claimed NHTSA said the car was safe to drive, while the recall notice said inflator rupture could injure or kill occupants.
Separate from the recall backlog, a smaller set of failures emerged: one airbag deployed at 2 mph and inflicted chemical burns; another failed to inflate at 40 mph, leaving the driver with concussion and neck/back injuries; shrapnel was documented in a 10 mph impact. One owner's recall repair was blocked due to an aftermarket steering wheel. A sixth narrative reports partial airbag deployment (trim separation only, no inflation) in a 25 mph incident preceded by unintended traction control activation. Throughout, owners express frustration that Ford faced fines but repair parts never materialized, and other manufacturers (Honda, Acura) remedied the same Takata issue faster.
Same Ford Mustang airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator rupture risk
Driver-side and passenger-side airbag inflators prone to rupture, creating metal shrapnel hazard on deployment. Safety risk documented in recall notices NHTSA 15V319000, 18V046000, and 19V001000. Owners report living with unfixed defect for years despite recall notice.
When: Recall issued May 27, 2015 (15V319000); subsequent recalls issued through 2019. Many owners still unrepaired as of 2017–2018.
Symptoms owners cite: No visible symptoms; hazard only manifest upon airbag deployment; Airbag warning light illuminated in some cases; Risk of metal fragments striking occupants in crash
Codes mentioned:NHTSA 15V319000, NHTSA 18V046000, NHTSA 19V001000, Ford Recall 15S21
Repairs/costs cited: Remedy: Dealer replacement of driver airbag inflator, free of charge. Passenger-side replacement also available under later recalls. Parts unavailable for 12–36+ months in most cases; owners cite no estimate given by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued recalls 15S21, 15V319000, 18V046000, 19V001000. Remedy incomplete due to prolonged parts shortage. Ford declined buyback requests. Owners report conflicting guidance on driving safety; some told car is safe to drive despite recall, others advised not to drive until repair complete.
Airbag deployment at low speed with burn injury
Driver-side airbag deployed in minor collision (2 mph rear-end, 15 mph fender-bender) and inflicted chemical burns on driver. Doctor confirmed burns were chemically induced, not from abrasion. Indicates possible defect in airbag material or propellant.
When: February 24, 2013 (new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed at very low speed (2 mph, 15 mph); Severe chemical burns to driver (arm, face area); Smoke and heat release upon deployment; Airbag inflated despite minimal impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle repaired for collision damage. Owner transported to emergency room for burn treatment; no airbag replacement noted in complaint.
Airbag deployment failure—non-inflation on impact
Driver-side airbag failed to inflate during moderate-speed collision (40 mph), leaving occupant unprotected. Owner sustained concussion, neck pain, and back pain; vehicle totaled. Separate incident: passenger-side airbag failed to deploy during rear-end impact; driver and passenger both injured (lacerated hip, fractured lumbar vertebra). One narrative also notes seat belts snapped on impact.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag failed to inflate on deployment signal; Driver-side airbag did not deploy in rear-end collision; Passenger-side airbag non-deployment in second case; Occupant injury from unrestrained impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled. No repair or diagnostic code recorded; manufacturer not notified in first case; notified in second case.
Airbag shrapnel release at low speed
Airbag deployed at 10 mph impact and released metal fragments and smoke into cabin. Police report filed; no injuries reported. Indicates inflator rupture or defective propellant seal.
When: Failure mileage 80,000
Symptoms owners cite: Metal shrapnel and smoke released into cabin; Deployment at low impact speed (10 mph); Airbag canister ruptured or fractured
Codes mentioned:NHTSA 15V319000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle drivable after incident; no repair details provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner later received NHTSA 15V319000 recall notice (Takata inflator defect).
Partial airbag deployment—only trim separation, no inflation
Driver and passenger airbags broke out of trim cover but failed to inflate fully during 25 mph collision caused by unintended traction control activation. Suggests a sensor or inflation system defect distinct from Takata inflator issue, though context unclear.
When: Speed 25 mph; vehicle model year 2013
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags separated from trim but did not inflate; Traction control malfunction preceded collision (two warning lights, AdvanceTrac deactivation alert); Vehicle downshifted and turned sideways; Operator struck barrier
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details recorded.
Recall repair blocked by aftermarket steering wheel
Dealer refused to perform airbag recall repair due to aftermarket steering wheel installation, claiming incompatibility or safety concern. Vehicle cannot be serviced under recall without removal or replacement of aftermarket component.
When: Vehicle equipped with aftermarket steering wheel at time of recall notification
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer declined; manufacturer not notified.
Synthesized from 143 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
16 most recent
airbags · 9,000 mi
· filed 12/31/2016
Takata recall; to date my air bag has not been replaced. This problem causes me to hesitate to drive my vehicle.
airbags
· filed 12/30/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Ford mustang. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v319000 (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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
airbags
· filed 12/28/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Ford mustang. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15v319000 (air bags). The manufacturer initially indicated the parts may become available during the fourth quarter of 2016. The manufacturer later stated that the parts may become available during the second quarter of 2017. The manufacturer was not able to provide a…
airbags
· filed 12/28/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Ford mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v319000 (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. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
airbags
· filed 12/23/2016
Takata recall. This vehicle was recalled in may 2015. We are now a week away from 2017, and I have not been able to have the car repaired despite repeated calls to my dealership. The NHTSA has identified this defect as being very dangerous, and I would rather not die due to a supply chain issue.
airbags · 8,800 mi
· filed 12/19/2014
Turned vehicle to the left out of a driveway, pressed on accelerator pedal to shift from 1st to 2nd, back end fishtailed, shifted into neutral to try to decrease the spin of the tires, pumped the brakes, over corrected and hit a parked vehicle at between 15 to 20 miles per hour. Only one person in my vehicle and the other car was parked no one in vehicle. Drivers airbag didn't deploy from the…
airbags
· filed 12/17/2017
Dealership won't fix airbags and car is 3 months old for me.
airbags · 35,000 mi
· filed 12/12/2016
Takata recall: notified by Ford in july 2015. As of december 2016 defective airbag has not been replaced.
airbags
· filed 12/11/2016
Takata recall I live in south florida and have been trying to get my airbags replaced since may of 2015. South florida is the worst area for the airbag to rupture and kill someone.. My dealer and Ford motor co. Is not helping me at all with this. Can you help me with this recall?
airbags
· filed 12/10/2016
Takata recall. Manufacturer still does not have the parts to replace the airbag.
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Ford Mustang?
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 Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 143 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 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 9,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 28,484. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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 — 1 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/2013/Ford/Mustang.
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.