49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Ford Expedition airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Ford Expedition have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the airbags 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 →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Expedition | 3 |
| 2014 Expedition | 6 |
| 2015 Expedition | 5 |
| 2016 Expedition (this page) | 5 |
| 2017 Expedition | 9 |
| 2018 Expedition | 5 |
| 2019 Expedition | 17 |
| 2020 Expedition | 6 |
When does it fail?
Of the 5 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
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.
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.
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.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My 2016 Ford expedition el ltd v-6 3.5l with 354 odometer miles produced 4 minor prelude engine surges within a couple hours on the roadways before it went full throttle 5 times within a couple minutes. It suddenly, and without warning, ran down my wife after squishing her against the garage-bedroom wall (which was destroyed) in reverse, placed me in traffic danger when it raced out of the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford expedition. While the contact's wife was stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries that required medical attention. One of the passengers sustained minor bruising that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was damaged, but was not totaled or towed. A police report was…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 5 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?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 106,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.