Over 100K Ford Ranger Pickups Recalled Over Torn Air Bag Issue

A new Ford Ranger recall pertains to airbags that could come into contact with the B-pillar reinforcements, causing them to tear.

After spending the last couple of years atop the list of automakers issuing the most recalls, Ford wound up breaking the all-time record for the most in one calendar year – in just the first six months of 2025. Many of these recalls pertain to the troublesome 2021-2023 model years, and are oftentimes expansions of previously-issued recalls, which are being doled out in an attempt to address issues that many may be having, in all fairness. Regardless, owners of newer Ford Ranger pickups are now facing another recall that could prove rather dangerous.

This new recall pertains to a grand total of 100,900 different 2024-2026 Ford Ranger pickups produced between December 9, 2022, and July 29, 2025. Those models are being recalled after the automaker discovered that the side curtain airbags may come into contact with the B-pillar inner reinforcements in the event of a crash, resulting in a tear. That not only renders the airbags essentially useless, but also means that these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, “Ejection Mitigation.”

The issue pertains to both the left and right air curtain airbags, and was discovered after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted an audit test on a 2025 Ford Ranger. That vehicle passed its test, but only barely, after which Ford and a third-party removed the right side air curtain and discovered that it had suffered a tear during deployment.

After that, Ford launched a comprehensive query into this issue, examining all of the potential problem areas, and ultimately discovered that the B-pillar inner reinforcement flange was to blame. Luckily. The automaker isn’t aware of any injuries or accidents that have occurred as a result of this problem, nor any warranty claims or customer service reports.

To fix this issue, Ford is instructing dealers to install protective shields in impacted Ford Ranger models, free of charge. It has already begun mailing letters to impacted owners notifying them of this safety risk, and will issue a second notice once a remedy is available – which is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the meantime, owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, referencing recall number 25C41 for more information. Alternatively, they can also visit nhtsa.gov.

Photos: Ford

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.