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 ↗2018 Ford F-150 airbags problems
critical Owners of the 2018 Ford F-150 have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 31,000 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
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 F-150 | 25 |
| 2015 F-150 | 25 |
| 2016 F-150 | 27 |
| 2017 F-150 | 20 |
| 2018 F-150 (this page) | 23 |
| 2019 F-150 | 15 |
| 2020 F-150 | 9 |
| 2021 F-150 | 3 |
17crashes
4fires
17injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 23 airbags complaints filed for the 2018 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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.
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 report three major categories of airbag failure on 2018 F-150s. First, the dashboard over the passenger airbag warps and bulges upward, often recurring after dealership replacement; Ford has issued a technical service bulletin halting repairs on 2015–2018 models despite knowing about the problem since 2015. Owners worry a deformed cover will block or misdirect airbag deployment.
Second, multiple owners experienced airbag non-deployment during head-on and offset collisions at 30–50 mph. In several cases, severe impacts—head-on crashes, rear-end collisions, impacts with poles and concrete barriers—produced injuries (sternum fractures, lacerations, whiplash) that should have been prevented by airbag deployment. In one fatal crash at 36,667 miles, the driver airbag did deploy but the steering wheel assembly itself dislodged and struck the driver's forehead; police found two of three retaining tabs sheered off.
Third, airbags catching fire post-deployment was reported in at least three incidents, with flames igniting seat belts and melting interior components. One vehicle caught fire while driving on the highway at highway speed with no prior collision.
Selective deployment failures—where some airbags deployed while others did not during the same crash—suggest sensor or circuit problems. Pre-collision warning systems activated in some crashes but automatic braking did not engage, and one owner reported an airbag warning light illuminated after impact.
Same Ford F-150 airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard warping/bulging over passenger airbag
Dashboard panel over passenger front airbag exhibits persistent upward bulging and warping, often recurring after dealership replacement attempts. Owners report multiple dash replacements fail with same warping pattern. Raises concern that deformed cover could impede proper airbag deployment or alter deployment direction.
When: Reported as early as 300 miles on new trucks; endemic to 2015-2020 model years according to owner reports
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bulging/warping of dashboard above passenger airbag; Warping also observed over defroster ducts; Pattern repeats after dealer replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Ford has issued TSB halting repair attempts on 2015-2018 F-150s; earlier approach was repeated dash panel replacement without fixing root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSB prohibits further repair attempts on 2015-2018 models; previously authorized dash replacement (multiple iterations without success)
Airbag non-deployment in frontal/offset collisions
Multiple reports of airbags failing to deploy during significant frontal and offset collisions at various speeds (30-50 mph range). Owners suffered injuries (sternum fractures, lacerations, whiplash, concussions) that likely would have been mitigated by proper airbag deployment. Police investigations documented impacts severe enough to warrant deployment.
When: Reported across mileage range from 50 miles to 137,447 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during head-on collisions; No deployment during offset rear-end collisions; No deployment after impact with stationary objects (poles, walls, parked vehicles, trees); Owner-reported pre-collision warning system active but no automatic braking in some cases; Seat belt tensioners deployed in some incidents where airbags did not; Airbag warning light illuminated after crash in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles deemed total loss; no post-incident diagnostic performed by manufacturer in most reports
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer directed owners to dealership diagnostics; some vehicles out of warranty at time of failure
Steering wheel airbag assembly dislodgement/ejection on deployment
Steering wheel-mounted airbag assembly detaches and ejects from wheel upon deployment, striking driver in face. Police investigation documented sheered retaining tabs. One owner reported assembly struck forehead and rear window blown out; another reported melted back casing and facial/eye injuries.
When: Occurred during crash events; one report at 36,667 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag assembly completely separates from steering wheel; Assembly becomes projectile striking driver's face/forehead; Airbag burns and bruising to face; Retaining tabs sheared off (documented in police investigation); Melted/damaged casing on back of assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Two of three retaining tabs found sheered; assembly collected as evidence by police
Airbag-related post-deployment fires
At least three reports of fires ignited by airbag systems after deployment during collisions. One fire started in driver-side door area after airbags deployed; another involved driver's pillar airbag melting through seatbelt and igniting seat; third was spontaneous vehicle fire while driving on highway.
When: Documented during/immediately after crash events and while vehicle in motion
Symptoms owners cite: Fire in vehicle shortly after airbag deployment (5 minutes post-accident in one case); Driver's pillar airbag catching fire and melting seatbelt; Flames traveling up driver's seat; Spontaneous fire while vehicle in motion on highway at 45-50 mph; White smoke observed in vehicle after collision
Repairs/costs cited: Fire department extinguished fires; vehicles deemed total loss
Partial airbag deployment (selective failure)
In offset/angled collisions, some airbags deployed while others failed—e.g., all bags but front driver airbag deployed, or rear seat belt tensioner deployed but no frontal airbags. Creates inconsistent protection and indicates possible sensor or deployment logic malfunction.
When: Occurred during offset collisions
Symptoms owners cite: All airbags deployed except front driver airbag (in one swerve-off-road event); Only rear seat belt tensioner deployed in 65-mph rain-event crash where no frontal bags deployed; Asymmetric deployment pattern not matching impact geometry
Airbag sensor damage not triggering deployment
Direct impact to airbag sensor did not trigger safety restraint system deployment despite severe deformation of engine bay and bumper. Owner and body shop questioned why direct sensor impact did not send deployment signal.
When: Occurred at 45-50 mph frontal collision
Symptoms owners cite: Direct hit to airbag sensor during collision; No airbag or seat belt deployment despite massive front-end damage; Bumper shoved into engine; Pre-collision warning appeared but no automatic braking
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor broken in accident; vehicle wrecked and unavailable for inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer directed owner to dealership diagnostic but vehicle deemed total loss by insurance
Steering wheel airbag cover degradation (white residue)
White residue appears on steering wheel airbag cover; dealership has replaced cap multiple times but residue recurs. Issue persists after warranty expiration.
When: Occurred before vehicle reached 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: White residue appearing on steering wheel airbag cover; Recurs after dealership replacement of cap
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced cap; no fix outside warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership refuses service after warranty expiration
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owned a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, an oncoming driver veered into his lane. The contact stated that he swerved to the left to avoid a head-on collision with the other driver. The vehicle drove off the road into the woods. The contact stated that all the airbags but the front driver's airbag deployed. The contact stated that he was able to exit the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Ford F-150?
It's a serious issue. 23 complaints have been filed, including 17 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 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 8,500 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 31,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,500; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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/2018/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.