17 complaints reported

2002 Ford Mustang Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
17
Crashes
12
Fires
0
Injuries
6

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

May 2019 Injury

TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAGS DEPLOYING I COMPLAINED TO MY TWO PASSENGERS THAT MY EYES WERE BURNING. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE IN CENTER LANE IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND INSTANTLY BOTH AIRBAGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE NOISE AND FORCE STARTLED ME TAKING MY FOOT OF BRAKE AND ROLLING FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS BLEW BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MY GLASSES INTO THE BACK SEAT OF CAR. THE PASSENGER BAG WAS SMOKING BADLY AND I QUICKLY PUT DOWN BOTH WINDOWS AND I PULLED OFF STREET INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHOM I ROLLED INTO PULLED OVER AS WELL. WE CHECKED BOTH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND REAR BUMPER OF HER CAR AND BECAUSE NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. I TOOK A PICTURE OF HER BUMPER AND LICENSE PLATE TO SHOW NO DAMAGE. MY PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT WAS BRUISED FROM AIRBAG AS FOR MYSELF AND THE OTHER PASSENGER WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2019
Apr 2019 Crash

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A IN TOWN ROAD SHE CAME UPON CONSTRUCTION, ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED BECAUSE THE 2 LANES WERE DOWN TO 1. AS SHE WAS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO START MOVING HER BOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER SEAT LEVER (THIGH HIGH BOOTS FLAP GOT CAUGHT) AND IT MADE HER FOOT SLIP FROM BRAKE, SHE THEN BUMPED INTO THE VAN IN FRONT OF HER, LESS THEN 5MPH AND BOTH WHICH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OR ANYTHING ON HER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING HER COLUME. ABSOLUTELY NO FRONT END DAMAGE, NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE, CAR STILL RUNS AND SEATBELTS STILL WORK. HAVING IT CHECKED FOR MALFUNCTIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2019
Jul 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2017
Dec 2008 Crash Injury

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, RAINING, CRUISE CONTROL ON, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT TREE HEAD ON. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2008
Mar 2008 Crash Injury

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLUSION AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008
Sep 2006 Crash

MY DAUGHTER, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD MUSTANG, STOPPED BEHIND A TRUCK AHEAD OF HER THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE TRUCK PULLED FORWARD AS IF TO GO, THEN STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF HER. SHE RAN INTO THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2006
Jul 2005 Crash Injury

2 DOOR FORD MUSTANG CONVERTABLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR ON SATURDAY 7/23/05 WITH 3 PEOPLE INJURED IN THE MUSTANG. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2005
Apr 2005

I AM A COSIGNER ON A 2002 FORD MUSTANG-DANIEL BARKER COSIGNER WAS BRANDON VICK, ALSO, ON MY INSURANCE. ON 04-16-2005 BRANDON WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY, 6 A MAJOR HIGHWAY RUNNING THROUGH BCS BETWEEN NAVASOTA AND HEAMPSTEAD, HE DROVE OVER A BRIDGE WHICH CHANGED TEXTURES, OR SLOPPED DOWN AND THE AIRBAGS IN DEPLOYED. BRANDON PULLED OVER SLOWLY AND CAME TO A STOP, PULLED OUT THE AIRBAGS AND DROVE AWAY.*AK 04-18-05-BRANDON TALKS TO INSURANCE AGENT WHO CALLS VARSITY FORD ABOUT FIXING THIS SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY JUST SAY NO, IT WILL BE $2,000. CALLS THOMPSON COUNTRY FORD AND THEY SAY TO COME IN AND RUN MUSTANG UNDER DIAGNOSIS MACHINE. WORKERS SAY THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THE CODES MEAN AND ASKED BRANDON TO COME BACK WHEN MANAGER IS BACK. GOES BACK 04-22 MANAGER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY CAUSE IT HAS EXPIRED, THIS IS NOT TRUE.IT WAS INITITIALLY UNDERSTOOD BY ALL PARTIES FROM THE BOOK IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE GLOVE COMPARTMENT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR AIRBAG SITUATIONS. THEN TOLD BRANDON NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE CHARGE. THEN WHEN PROVED WRONG THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO IT CAUSE IT HAD CRASHED BUT REFUSED TO WRITE THIS ON PAPER UNLESS THEY WERE PAID $70. I WENT UP THERE AND PAID THEM $70. THEY WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING DOWN HWY 6 AND HIT A POTHOLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CRASH IS DETECTED THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT RELEASE CODES OR EXPLAIN WHAT ALL MEANT. THEY IMPLIED THAT CAR WAS CRASHED AND 'FIXED UP' FROM SAT TO MON. THEY ALSO WROTE ON PAPER THAT VEHICLES WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THEY WERE FALSIFYING THE TRUTH BY SAYING THAT CAR HIT A POTHOLE. THAT WAS NEVER SAID. THERE IS NO SIGN OF DAMAGE ON THE CAR, EXAMINED BY CLAIMS REP. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT TRAVEL HWY 6 EVERYDAY AND DRIVE OVER THE SAME BRIDGE. NO MODIFICATIONS TO THIS VEHICLE. CLAIM WITH FARMERS PENDING HOWEVER MECHANICAL FAILURE IS EXCLUDED FROM POLICY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2005
Apr 2005

2002 FORD MUSTANG AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT WHEN IT HIT A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE YET THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 1901
Jun 2004 Crash Injury

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CONSUMER ENTERED A ONE WAY STREET THE WRONG WAY. THEN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. CONSUMER WORE SEAT BELTS, BUT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE POLICE DID MAKE A REPORT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN THE COLLISION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2004
Oct 2003

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE HIT A SMALL CURB AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2003
Aug 2003 Crash

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,ON AUG. 26, 2003 AT AROUND 9:45 PM I WAS IN A TERRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT IN MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG ,IN WHICH MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH HEAD ON AND I WAS ALSO STRUCK FROM BEHIND. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND SENSORS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALSO VERY WORRIED AT THAT FACT. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY LEGAL ACTION I CAN TAKE AGAINST FORD MOTOR CO. FOR JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY. JASON HIRST. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2003
Jul 2003 Crash

I OWN 2 / 2002 FORD MUSTANGS. MY SON HAS BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS WITH HIS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND IN BOTH INCIDENTS HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRST ACCIDENT MAY HAVE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION BUT THE 2ND ONE WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED HIM HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER AT BETTER THAN 40 MPH. I HAD THE AIRBAG TESTED WHEN REPAIRED ON THE 1ST ACCIDENT AND APPROVED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE PROTECTION FROM THIS DEVICE AND FORD ACTUALLY EXPECTS ME TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. CAN YOU HELP? *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2003
Jun 2003 Crash

SUBJECT:AIRBAG FAILURE COMMENTS: TWICE NOW MY SON HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH HIS 2002 MUSTANG AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT HURT. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG SPECIFICALLY TESTED AT THE REPAIR SHOP AT THE LAST REPAIR BEFORE ACCEPTING DELIVERY OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD SOMEONE IS HIRED BY THE REPAIR SHOP TO COME OUT AND RUN TESTS BY HOOKING UP INSTRUMENTS TO THE CAR AND GETTING A READ OUT. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THIS WAS DONE BUT MY SON JUST HAD HIS 2ND ACCIDENT AND HIS CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AT BETTER THAN 40 MPH AND THE AIRBAG STILL DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO CONSUMER SERVICE AT THE FORD WEBSITE BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SON'S FUTURE USE OF THIS CAR AND THAT FACT THAT MY WIFE OWNS AN IDENTICAL MUSTANG OF THE SAME MANUFACTURED YEAR OF 2002. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER CASES WHERE THE AIRBAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED WHEN IT WAS EXPECTED TOO AND WHO CAN I CONTACT ABOUT FURTHER ACTION TO TAKE? VERY CONCERNED, CHRIS KOSS FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2003
Dec 2002 Crash

THE CONSUMER WAS AT A INTERSECTION IN PROCEEDING TO PULL OUT. ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT HER HEAD ON. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2002
Jun 2002 Crash

BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. OUR MUSTANG STRUCK A PICK UP TRUCK AS IT TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF US AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. WE STRUCK HIS RIGHT REAR PANEL AND NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2002
May 2002 Crash Injury

VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON AT 5-10 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. YET, DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2002

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Ford Mustang has 17 Air Bags complaints on file. 12 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.