Steering wheel airbag did not deploy in a high speed crash. The knee airbag DID deploy. My daughter was in an accident with another vehicle. The other vehicle was traveling about 40 mph. It was a very high impact crash that launched by daughters car about 30 feet. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy. As a result my daughter hit her and and received a severe concussion. She was wearing a…
2016 Ford Mustang airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Ford Mustang have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 18,200 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
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Mustang | 152 |
| 2013 Mustang | 143 |
| 2014 Mustang | 240 |
| 2015 Mustang | 22 |
| 2016 Mustang (this page) | 13 |
| 2017 Mustang | 10 |
| 2020 Mustang | 7 |
7crashes
5injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Thirteen 2016 Mustang owners complained about airbag defects. The most critical issue: airbags failed to deploy in multiple crashes. One driver hit a guardrail head-on; airbags did not deploy. Another experienced a 40 mph intersection collision; only the knee airbag deployed while the steering wheel airbag remained inactive, causing her daughter a severe concussion and facial injuries. A third owner reported driving into a tree after unintended acceleration; no airbags deployed despite the impact. A fourth was burned and blistered when airbags did eventually deploy after hitting a brick mailbox.
Owners were notified of NHTSA Campaign 15V319000—a Takata airbag recall—but faced catastrophic parts shortages. One owner waited over two years for a recall appointment that never came. Another was told replacement parts were unavailable despite Ford notifying him they could proceed with the work. One purchased the vehicle in December 2015 and received notice of the defect shortly after but was never proactively warned at point of sale.
One owner reported an intermittent airbag warning light that illuminates when the car sits in the hot sun, though this clears after driving. No owner reported clear diagnostic information or warning before the crash-related non-deployments.
Same Ford Mustang airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags failed to deploy in crash
Multiple owners reported that airbags did not deploy during significant impacts, including head-on collisions at 40-50 mph and crashes caused by deer strikes or guardrail impacts. In some cases, only partial deployment occurred (knee airbag deployed but steering wheel airbag did not).
When: During crashes at various mileages; incidents reported in 2016, 2017, and 2020
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during high-impact collision; Partial deployment (some bags deploy, others do not); Steering wheel airbag specifically did not deploy in multiple incidents; No warning lamps indicating malfunction prior to crashes
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported vehicle repair cost of $18,000 after first accident with airbag deployment; subsequent accidents resulted in vehicles being totaled. Owners experienced significant injuries when airbags failed to deploy: broken nose requiring multiple surgeries, severe concussion, rib injury.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V319000 (Takata airbag recall); owners report recall parts unavailable for extended periods and manufacturer did not proactively notify all owners at purchase
Airbag warning light illuminates on hot days
Owner reported airbag warning light remaining on when vehicle is parked in hot sun and then started, but light extinguishes after approximately 10 minutes of driving or after turning vehicle off and back on.
When: On hot sunny days when vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light stays on after cold start in hot weather; Light clears after driving approximately 10 minutes; Intermittent warning light
Airbag burn/blister injury on deployment
Owner reported being burned and blistered when airbags deployed during a collision. The narrative does not indicate whether this was a manufacturing defect or normal deployment reaction.
When: During collision with brick mailbox after swerving to avoid deer
Symptoms owners cite: Burn and blister injuries upon airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Owner sustained burn and blister injuries
Takata airbag recall—extended parts shortage and delayed repairs
Owners reported being notified of NHTSA Campaign 15V319000 (Takata airbag recall) but experienced extreme delays in obtaining replacement parts. One owner waited over two years without receiving a recall appointment; others were told parts were unavailable despite being notified by Ford that repairs could be done.
When: Post-purchase notification; owners waited months to years without repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Notification of defective Takata airbags received; No warning lamps or symptoms experienced by owners before crashes; Recall parts unavailable for extended periods
Repairs/costs cited: One owner waited over two years for recall repair appointment that never materialized; another told parts not available after receiving notice to proceed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V319000; Ford issued recall notices but parts distribution was severely delayed; manufacturer did not proactively advise owners at time of purchase of known defect
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 3,200 and 38,000 miles, with the median around 18,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,200; a quarter make it past 38,000. 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?
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/2016/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.