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Air bagsPart report

2002 Ford F-150 Air bags Problems

Complaints
35about this part
Share
4%of 821 total for the year
Median mileage
84,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Ford F-150, 4% of the 821 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,000 miles. 28 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving on freeway when a car that was traveling in an excess of 80+ miles and rear-ended my 2002 Ford f 150. My truck was totaled and my drivers seat back frame broke from right side and none of my airbags deployed. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I had a concussion, neck injury, knees and re-injured my back. I was lucky to be alive.”

NHTSA complaint #11361288, filed 2020-09, 300,000 miles

“A car made an illegal left turn in front of me, I hit that car doing about 55 MPH, after that impact the truck swerved to the right. And I hit another car stopped at a red light. My questions is why didn't my air bags deploy. After doing $12000. Damage and Ford is wanting to total my truck.”

NHTSA complaint #10109869, filed 2005-02, 96,000 miles

“While attempting to park my truck in a parking lot during the winter month of january, I had to maneuver over a small snow pile the size of a speed bump. After spinning my tires in four wheel drive on the slick snowy parking lot, the trucks front tires finally made it over the bump from a parked position. As soon as the truck came to a sudden stop on the other side of the bump, both front airbags deployed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10093590, filed 2004-10, 18,100 miles

“While driving down a 2 lane road in my 2002 Ford F-150 harley davison pick-up truck doing the posted speed limit (50 MPH), I quickly tried to avoid from rearending a mid-model 1990 Ford aerostar passenger van, at a speed between 35-45mph. After impacting the rear end of the van, the air bag(s) on my air bag equiped vehicle did not deploy . My seat belt was being used. The insurance company and myself had to take a loss of the vehicle, due to the extent of damage done to my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10126937, filed 2005-06, 35,267 miles

“A 2002 Ford F-150 struck a 1996 chevy blazer in the right rear, there for having damage to the front and front left quarter panel of the F-150. The impact was hard enough to roll the blazer over on to its top. My concern is that the air bags in both vehicles did not deploy the F-150 was traveling at a speed of +40mph at the time of impact, the blazer was at a parked stop.”

NHTSA complaint #10350064, filed 2010-08, 116,562 miles

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202511%
202442%
202310%
202241%
202150%
2020101%
2019242%
2018382%
2017232%
2016362%
2015352%
2014312%
2013391%
2012372%
2011141%
2010192%
2009124%
2008298%
2007276%
2006488%
20051019%
2004854%
2003297%
2002354%
2001665%
2000696%
1999697%
1998423%
1997994%
1996237%
1995356%
19949414%
199310%
199141%
199010%
198910%

Other parts of the 2002 Ford F-150

Engine cooling
196 complaints
Electrical system
106 complaints
Fuel system
86 complaints
Vehicle speed control
86 complaints
Engine
66 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
53 complaints
Seat belts
50 complaints
Body and structure
45 complaints
Brakes
42 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaints
Other or unknown
29 complaints
Steering
25 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford F-150

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology