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 F-150 airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Ford F-150 have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 78,327 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
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 F-150 | 25 |
| 2016 F-150 | 27 |
| 2017 F-150 | 20 |
| 2018 F-150 | 23 |
| 2019 F-150 (this page) | 15 |
| 2020 F-150 | 9 |
| 2021 F-150 | 3 |
6crashes
15injuries
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
The dominant issue is the driver airbag cover splitting or separating along its factory perforation lines, exposing the airbag underneath. It happens at the center Ford emblem (where the cover houses the driver airbag) or along the right-side perforation, typically when the cover is new or relatively low-mileage. One owner had the cover replaced twice and it failed a third time, suggesting a design flaw. Depressing the steering wheel to honk the horn can push your palm directly into the exposed airbag cavity. Ford's part called the Driver Inflator Module includes the cover as a single unit and is covered under a 60k-mile Airbag Safety Restraint Warranty (NHTSA ID 10207126), though some dealers initially refused coverage claiming it cosmetic. Ford has acknowledged the problem and released an improved assembly.
The second major failure is non-deployment of the driver-side frontal airbag in serious collisions—T-bones at 55 mph, head-on impacts, and rear-end crashes. Owners sustained significant injuries (neck fractures, spinal injuries, head trauma) suggesting the airbag should have activated. One RCM (Restraint Control Module) communication loss at 49k miles triggered cascading faults across airbag, pre-collision, parking brake, hill-start, and ABS systems simultaneously. A single report of unexpected deployment at 24k miles correlates with a false accident alert from Ford's app. Dealers uniformly offered no assistance on deployment failures.
Same Ford F-150 airbags reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Driver airbag cover fracture/separation at deployment perforations
Plastic cover housing the driver airbag splits or separates along the factory perforation lines, exposing the airbag underneath. Owners report the cover opening horizontally at the center (Ford emblem area) or along the right-side perforations. Horn use can depress the palm through the opening into the airbag cavity. One owner reports the cover failed three times despite two replacements, indicating a design defect rather than wear.
When: Reported at 28,100 miles, 30k miles (first occurrence), 50k miles (recurrence), 78,327 miles, 97,000 miles, 114,000 miles. No clear pattern; failures span early and higher mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible crack or fracture under Ford emblem on steering wheel; Plastic cover separates horizontally along airbag deployment perforation; Airbag exposed to elements and hand contact; Palm can depress into cavity when honking horn
Repairs/costs cited: Ford part: Driver Inflator Module (includes cover as single unit, cannot be replaced separately). Covered under 60k-mile Airbag Safety Restraint Warranty per NHTSA ID 10207126. One owner had cover replaced twice and failed a third time. Some dealers denied coverage claiming cosmetic issue; manufacturer acknowledged issue and released a 'more robust' airbag assembly per NHTSA 10207126.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA ID 10207126; Ford Campaign Number SSM-50419; 60k-mile Airbag Safety Restraint Warranty covers defective covers. Ford acknowledged the issue and released an improved airbag assembly design.
Driver-side frontal airbag non-deployment in frontal/side-impact collisions
In multiple collision scenarios (frontal impacts, T-bone strikes, rear-end crashes), the driver-side frontal airbag failed to deploy despite sufficient crash severity. Owners sustained injuries (neck injuries, head trauma, spinal fractures, concussions) that suggest airbag deployment would have been protective. Some narratives indicate no pre-collision warnings or system indicators before failure.
When: 5,000 miles (T-bone at 55 mph); 24,000 miles (apparent false deployment warning); 49,000 miles (RCM communication loss with check engine/airbag lights on); multiple high-mileage failures (78k+, 114k+). Timing spans new vehicle to higher mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side frontal airbag does not deploy in frontal impact; Airbag fails to deploy in T-bone side-impact collision; Airbag fails to deploy in rear-end collision; Collision not detected or pre-collision system inactive; No warning light illuminated prior to collision; Airbag warning light on dashboard (post-failure); Check engine light, traction control light, ABS light illuminated
Codes mentioned: RCM (Restraint Control Module) communication loss, Pre-collision system malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported that FMC declined to inspect the totaled vehicle citing COVID-19 restrictions. Dealers offered no assistance, referring owners to insurance. Most vehicles were totaled and not repaired. No specific repair costs cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance offered by dealers or manufacturer in most narratives. One owner noted FMC declined inspection due to COVID. No recalls or technical bulletins cited for non-deployment failures.
RCM (Restraint Control Module) communication loss and integrated system failures
The Restraint Control Module loses communication, causing cascading failures in multiple safety and convenience systems. One owner at 49k miles reported RCM loss triggering airbag warning light, check engine light, traction control, ABS warning, disabled parking brake, hill-start assist, and seat-belt warnings simultaneously. Pre-collision system also stopped working.
When: 49,000 miles reported; timing and prevalence unclear from narratives.
Symptoms owners cite: RCM loses communication; Airbag warning light illuminated; Check engine light illuminated; Traction control warning light on; ABS warning light on; Pre-collision system stops functioning; Parking brake disabled; Hill-start assist stops working; Seat-belt warning system disabled
Codes mentioned: RCM communication fault
Repairs/costs cited: All fuses reported in working order. Not repaired in the narrative provided.
Unexpected airbag deployment while stationary
Driver-side airbag deployed without collision or impact, with the vehicle stationary or traveling at low speed. Narrative indicates a manufacturer application had falsely reported an accident that never occurred, triggering the deployment warning.
When: 24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag deploys while driving at ~35 mph with no accident; No warning light illuminated prior to deployment; Manufacturer app reported false accident prior to deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle declared total loss by insurance company.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified but no details on response provided.
Synthesized from 15 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 2019 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 2019 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 24,000 and 93,000 miles, with the median around 78,327. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 93,000. 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/2019/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.