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 ↗2019 Ford Expedition airbags problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
4injuries
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Ford Expedition we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 16.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Ford Expedition has a restraint system defect centered on seatbelt pretensioners deploying without any collision or crash event. Owners describe the sound as comparable to a gunshot or shotgun blast inside the cab, with one claiming it prompted a police report. The pretensioner fires with enough force to violently retract the seatbelt 3–4 inches, slamming occupants against their seats and causing disorientation and panic. Incidents occurred while parked, idling, and at speeds ranging from 30–55 mph, with mileage between 60,000 and 135,000 miles. Deployment generates cabin smoke and leaves the seatbelt completely inoperable afterward. One owner reported hospitalization with irregular heartbeat following the event; another suffered a burned hand. The airbag warning light illuminates post-deployment. Diagnostic code B007E-13 (RCM circuit open, seatbelt pretensioner C deployment control) appears in scans. Owners cite NHTSA Campaigns 25V197000 and 24V099000, plus manufacturer recall 24S06, but dealerships report recall parts are unavailable and wait times extend into late 2024. One dealership told an owner their VIN wasn't covered by the recalled campaign despite experiencing the identical failure. Dealers have refused to provide loaners or cover towing costs while the vehicle remains unsafe.
Failure modes owners describe
Seatbelt Pretensioner Unintended Deployment
Driver or passenger seatbelt pretensioner activates without collision or crash, generating loud explosion-like sound (comparable to gunshot or shotgun), causing violent retraction of seatbelt (3-4 inches reported), cabin filled with smoke, seatbelt becomes completely inoperable after event.
When: Mileage range 60,000–135,000 miles; incidents reported parked, idling, at low speeds (30–55 mph), and while driving at undisclosed speeds.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosion or popping sound inside cabin (described as gunshot/shotgun/45 cal equivalent); Seatbelt retracts violently 3–4 inches, pulling occupant hard against seat; Smoke fills interior cabin; Seatbelt becomes fully retracted and inoperable after deployment; Airbag warning light illuminates; Seatbelt warning light may illuminate; Occupant disorientation, fear, potential loss of vehicle control at speed
Codes mentioned: B007E-13 (RCM- Restraint Control Module, Driver Seatbelt Pretensioner C Deployment Control - Circuit Open)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repairs involve replacing seatbelt retractor pretensioner, wiring harness, sensors, modules, and entire seatbelt assembly. One owner reports burning of hand upon deployment. Repair costs not specified by owners; one reports $2,400 paid for prior cam phaser repair in May, then seatbelt failure occurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V197000 (Seat Belts) and Campaign 24V099000 (Seat Belts) and Manufacturer Recall 24S06 referenced by owners. Owners report recall parts not yet available at dealerships; wait times cited extending to end of 2024. One dealership stated VIN not included in Campaign 25V197000 despite same failure mode. Dealer refused loaner vehicles; refused to pay for towing. Manufacturer advised contact with NHTSA Hotline; one contact advised to wait for parts approval.
Airbag Inadvertent Deployment
Driver-side airbag deploys without collision or crash event, striking occupant. Occurs independent of seatbelt pretensioner failure in some cases, though related to overall restraint system circuit faults.
When: Mileage range 72,000–93,000 miles; incidents at undisclosed speeds and while vehicle parked/shifted to park.
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag deploys without crash; Airbag strikes driver in mouth or chest area; Loud popping sound; Airbag warning light and seatbelt warning light illuminate; No warning lights illuminated (in one case)
Codes mentioned: B007E-13 (RCM- Restraint Control Module)
Repairs/costs cited: Seatbelt retractor pretensioner and airbag require replacement. One incident resulted in burned hand. Repairs not completed by owners at time of reporting.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in multiple cases; no repairs completed. One contact advised to contact NHTSA Hotline. No assistance offered in several cases. Related to NHTSA Campaign 24V099000.
Seatbelt Failure to Retract During Collision
During actual collision event, front passenger seatbelt failed to retract/deploy as designed, leaving passenger unprotected despite all other airbags deploying.
When: At 40–45 mph during collision with another vehicle (mileage approximately 89,000).
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt did not retract during crash; All other airbags deployed normally; Passenger sustained scratches but no serious injury
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent lot, not diagnosed or repaired by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Airbag pre-tensioner fired without any collision.
Had airbags trouble with your 2019 Ford Expedition?
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 2019 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 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 16 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 83,714 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.
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/2019/Ford/Expedition.
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.