Some 2015-2020 F-150, 2017-2022 Super Duty and 2018-2021 Expedition vehicles may experience a cracked or splitting driver air bag cover. This may be due to the air bag cover tear seam design. An updated driver air bag assembly has been released with a more robust air bag cover design. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-20B for the replacement procedure. If servicing under warranty, use causal part 15043B13 for F-150 and Expedition or 25043B13 for Super Duty and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford F-150 airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Ford F-150 have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 27,440 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
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 F-150 | 23 |
| 2014 F-150 | 25 |
| 2015 F-150 | 25 |
| 2016 F-150 | 27 |
| 2017 F-150 (this page) | 20 |
| 2018 F-150 | 23 |
| 2019 F-150 | 15 |
| 2020 F-150 | 9 |
| 2021 F-150 | 3 |
12crashes
12injuries
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.
Some 2015-2020 F-150 vehicles may experience a cracked or splitting driver air bag cover. This may be due to the air bag cover tear seam design. An updated driver air bag assembly has been released with a more robust air bag cover design. Refer to Workshop manual (WSM), Section 501-20B for the replacement procedure. If servicing under warranty, use causal part 15043B13 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Ford F-150s report airbags failing to deploy in crashes that should have triggered them. In side-impact collisions at 35–50 mph, side airbags did not activate, leaving occupants struck against windows and suffering head, shoulder, and hand fractures. In frontal impacts at 40–65 mph—including one vehicle in three separate crashes—no front airbags deployed despite severe front-end damage and occupants sustaining serious injuries (concussions, staples to the head, chest and abdominal trauma, even a broken sternum). In at least one multi-vehicle highway collision at 50–55 mph where the F-150 was deemed a total loss, airbags did not deploy even though sensor lights appeared activated.
Driver-side airbag covers have developed cracks above the steering wheel label, with one failure recurring after dealer replacement. A passenger-side airbag hose has disconnected repeatedly—twice within two months on the same vehicle—disabling protection and triggering warning lights. One owner's airbag deployed but failed to deflate, trapping his head until he cut the bag open, inhaling white powdery propellant that caused respiratory symptoms. Water intrusion has stained airbag covers and affected the electrical panel. Dealers have performed diagnostics with no failure found, and the manufacturer has denied warranty coverage for some failures.
Same Ford F-150 airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Side airbag non-deployment in side-impact crashes
Side airbags fail to deploy during side-impact collisions, leaving occupants unprotected and vulnerable to direct contact with vehicle structure and windows.
When: At impact during side-impact crashes at 35-50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment; Occupants striking side windows; Occupants sustaining injuries from unprotected impact
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic testing found no failure; vehicle not repaired
Front airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes
Driver and passenger front airbags fail to deploy in frontal impact collisions despite significant vehicle damage and crash severity, including multiple crashes on the same vehicle.
When: At impact in frontal collisions ranging from 40-65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite severe front-end damage; Occupants sustaining chest, abdominal, head, and sternum injuries; Sensor lights illuminated but bags did not deploy
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no assistance offered
Driver airbag cover cracking
Driver-side airbag cover develops cracks over the steering wheel label. Multiple owners report this as a recurring issue on the same model year.
When: Between 50,000-67,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible crack on airbag cover above steering wheel; Park Aid alarm illuminated on instrument panel
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag cover replaced by dealer; failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated failure not covered under warranty
Airbag hose disconnection and passenger-side protection failure
Hose connecting to airbag system repeatedly disconnects, disabling passenger-side airbag protection and triggering warning light. Recurring issue within short intervals.
When: Second occurrence within two months of first failure
Symptoms owners cite: Disconnected hose; Airbag warning light illuminated; Passenger airbag disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Hose reconnected by dealer twice in two months
Airbag inflation and non-deflation hazard
Deployed airbag failed to deflate after collision, trapping occupant's head and requiring manual cutting of the bag. Bag rupture released white powdery propellant contents into cab.
When: During collision on 12-20-2017
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed but did not deflate; White powdery smoke filling cab; Occupant inhaling propellant contents; Subsequent respiratory symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: Occupant treated with Azithromycin 250mg; respiratory issue recurred
Water intrusion affecting airbag electrical systems
Water entering truck cab through unknown path, wetting and staining driver-side airbag cover and running down electrical instrument panel. Occurs during rain when vehicle parked on incline.
When: During rain with vehicle on incline, front lower than back
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible on airbag cover and inside cab; Staining of airbag cover; Water flowing from driver-side grab handle; Water dripping down instrument panel
Airbag warning light illumination
Airbag warning light illuminates during vehicle operation, indicating a fault in the airbag system. Owner required to take vehicle to dealer for diagnostic.
When: At 91,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle repaired by dealer
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 Ford F-150?
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 2017 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 18,000 and 58,000 miles, with the median around 27,440. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 58,000. 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/2017/Ford/F-150.
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.