Air Bag On-off Switch problems of the 2014 Ford F-150

Vehicle was purchased in 2017. In 2018, occassionally noted that the passenger airbag indicator would switch to off while a passenger was in the seat, with seatbelt fastened. Approached my dealer with the problem, they read codes and found no faults. During a long road trip in 2019/2020, a pattern emerged: when vehicle first started and passenger present, passenger airbag system indicates on. After 20-30 minutes of driving, indicator goes to off. About 50% of the time, unbuckling and retracting passenger seatbelt, then rebuckling, and indicator will come back on. If this fails, truck must have ignition turned off before it will reset and switch airbag on. Have been told by dealership that this vehicle is not part of the 2014/15 recall for issues that match these symptoms. Also told that my expensive extended warranty may not cover a fix (to the main safety system??). . . It is dependent on shop inspection and diagnosis.

This pickup truck, owned and operated by a public utility, was involved in a low speed front end collision on a city street. The incident involved the front bumper of the F-150 making abrupt contact with the rear bumper and tailgate of a Nissan frontier pickup. There were no injuries to the driver of either vehicle and no airbags deployed initially. Immediately after the collision, the truck was pulled over to the side of the road, the ignition was switched off, and the 4-way flashers were turned on. The keys were removed from the ignition and the driver exited the vehicle to exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. While the drivers were exchanging information, approximately 5 minutes after the collision, the driver side airbag deployed. Within a minute or two after the airbag deployed, the interior of the truck erupted in flames, which were reported to have started in the area behind the front seat console. The inside of the cab was engulfed in flames, and the fire spread to the engine compartment and bed. The local fire department responded quickly, but the truck suffered severe fire damage.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. While driving at any speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The warning light kept switching on and off. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,200.