2005 Ford Ranger Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 132about this part
- Share
- 46%of 289 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 132 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Ford Ranger, 46% of the 289 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,500 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 8 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The passenger side module - air bag was replaced twice first 3/17/ 2017 and 8/23/2018 and the 2nd time they replaced it with outdated parts. Report recall part 573 safety - 21v-081. The replacement has not started yet but I think there should be a lawsuit also because they did the replacement anyway to satisfy the goverment and they put our lifes at risk”
NHTSA complaint #11397544, filed 2021-02, 40,909 miles“Takata recall - started receiving recall notices in feb 2016- jan 2018 (see attached ) after numerous, numerous calls to my local dealership ( jerry's leesburg Ford ) I always get the same response, we're out of repair parts, you'll have to call back in a couple months its been over 2 years and I'm afraid to continue to drive my truck, my milage is at 214150”
NHTSA complaint #11092887, filed 2018-05, 214,150 miles“My husband t-boned a semi at 35 MPH. The truck spun around and the rear of the truck also hit the semi. The airbags did not deploy. He incurred multiple injuries, some of which could have been minimized had airbags deployed. The truck was totaled. There was a direct hit -- I.e. Front of truck hit side of semi and destroyed engine (and more), yet air bag did not deploy. .”
NHTSA complaint #10615177, filed 2014-07, 60,000 miles“I got a letter about a recall on the airbags because they have killed people. I contacted the local dealer and they said they do not have the parts yet. Ford is stating in the news that we should not drive this vehicle. The dealer said they are not providing a rental and the Ford hotline has hung up on me several times without allowing me to speak to a person. My son has the car to get to school and now has no way to do that. I need a repair or a rental right away.”
NHTSA complaint #11062455, filed 2018-01, 140,000 miles“We were traveling north on highway 37 and a car traveling west pulled out from a stop sign in front of is we hit the front passenger side of our truck into the other vehicles left front and our truck continued over the top of the other vehicles front end.the airbags on our truck did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10568227, filed 2014-03, 87,000 milesRelated recalls
- 17V787000Dec 11, 2017DO NOT DRIVEFord Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 17V788000Dec 11, 2017DO NOT DRIVEFord Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 23V306000Apr 28, 2023Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 23V125000Feb 24, 2023Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 21V076000Feb 17, 2021Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2011, Mustang 2005–2014, Fusion 2008–2012 +5 more
- 16V036000Jan 25, 2016Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
- 15V322000May 28, 2015Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. The affected vehicles are…Covers: Ford Ranger 2004–2006
Related service bulletins
- 10240415Jul 27, 2023Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module…
- 10209374Mar 28, 2022Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module…
- 10057596Oct 22, 2014Ford: 2005-2006 ford gt, 2005-2008 mustang, and 2004-2005 ranger vehicles operated in florida, hawaii, puerto rico, or the u.s virgin islands are in need of an airbag inflator…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 4% |
| 2024 | 4 | 4% |
| 2023 | 2 | 11% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 196 | 83% |
| 2010 | 128 | 82% |
| 2009 | 144 | 85% |
| 2008 | 295 | 90% |
| 2007 | 236 | 87% |
| 2006 | 175 | 64% |
| 2005 | 132 | 46% |
| 2004 | 189 | 47% |
| 2003 | 25 | 10% |
| 2002 | 37 | 11% |
| 2001 | 62 | 12% |
| 2000 | 67 | 10% |
| 1999 | 79 | 10% |
| 1998 | 32 | 6% |
| 1997 | 22 | 5% |
| 1996 | 25 | 6% |
| 1995 | 18 | 6% |
| 1994 | 3 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 1% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Ranger
50 complaintsBody and structure
34 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsTires
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Ford Ranger
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