Recall 17V787 affects 328,213 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks for driver air bag inflator rupture. Do not drive. Free repair once Ford opens it.
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before deployment. Do not drive the Ranger, even for short trips; ask the dealer about towing. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once Ford opens it.
Ford is recalling 328,213 2004-2006 Ranger trucks under recall 17V787 because the driver frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments toward occupants, risking serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck; Ford dealers will complete the repair free of charge once Ford opens the final remedy.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag inflator in the 2004-2006 Ford Ranger is the metal canister that fills the air bag during a crash. When the crash sensors call for the driver air bag, the inflator generates gas and pushes the bag open in front of the driver.
On affected Ranger trucks, the original Takata driver inflator uses a non-desiccated PSAN propellant, a chemical gas source without the drying agent used to control moisture. If the truck is in a crash where the frontal air bags deploy, pressure inside the inflator can rise too high. That pressure can rupture the inflator instead of sending gas only into the air bag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem appears only during a crash deployment, which is why Ford issued a Do Not Drive advisory for remaining unrepaired trucks until the final inflator repair is complete.
Who's affected?
Covers three Ranger model years, all involving the same driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2006 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2005 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
| 2004 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
| Units affected | 328,213 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before deployment. Do not drive the Ranger, even for short trips; ask the dealer about towing. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once Ford opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2006 Ford Ranger is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the truck until the driver frontal air bag inflator repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the truck must be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask about the free alternate driver air bag inflator repair for recall number 17V787.
- Tell the dealer if the truck already received the earlier interim air bag inflator repair under Ford recall 16V036.
What happens at the repair
Ford's instruction is clear: do not drive the truck until the repair is complete. Once the final dealer repair is available, a Ford technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Trucks that received the earlier interim inflator still need this alternate inflator installed. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the original warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program, because warranty coverage provided a free repair for this concern.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 11, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 16, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 13, 2024 | Dealer notification began |
| August 13, 2024 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 26, 2024 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 26, 2024 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V787?
Recall 17V787 covers 328,213 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks with a driver-side frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin. Do not drive the truck until a Ford dealer completes the free inflator replacement.
What should I do if my 2004-2006 Ford Ranger is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 17V787. If it is, do not drive it to the dealer. Call a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and ask how to arrange the free air bag inflator replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Ford to repair the defect at no cost. A franchised Ford dealer will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge, including trucks that already received the earlier interim inflator repair.
What does do not drive mean for recall 17V787?
Do not drive means the truck should stay parked until the dealer completes the repair. Ford advised owners not to drive affected Rangers because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture in a crash that deploys the air bag.
What if I bought my Ford Ranger used?
The free repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2004-2006 Ranger is included, then call a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 17V787 when you ask for the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V787000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V787 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V787000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →