Recall 17V788 covers 328,213 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks for passenger air bag inflator rupture. Do not drive. Free repair once Ford opens it.
In a crash that deploys the passenger frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, with serious injury or death as the stated risk. Do not drive the Ranger, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. If it must move, ask Ford about towing. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once Ford opens it.
Ford is recalling 328,213 2004-2006 Ranger trucks because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin. Do not drive these trucks while the remedy remains interim; Ford's final dealer repair will be free once it opens at a franchised Ford dealer.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in a 2004-2006 Ford Ranger is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash severe enough to deploy the air bag, the inflator burns gas-generating material and fills the bag so it can cushion the front passenger.
These trucks were built with a Takata single-stage inflator that uses non-desiccated PSAN, a form of ammonium nitrate without a drying agent. The material can create excessive internal pressure during air bag deployment. If pressure rises too high, the inflator can rupture instead of opening in a controlled way.
Ford previously used an interim inflator repair for the same passenger air bags. This recall implements the final repair with an inflator that does not use PSAN as the gas generator. There is no warning sign before failure. The problem shows only if the passenger air bag deploys.
Who's affected?
Covers three Ranger model years, all tied to the passenger-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2005 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2004 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
| 2006 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 passenger frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, with serious injury or death as the stated risk. Do not drive the Ranger, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. If it must move, ask Ford 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 Ford or a franchised Ford dealer confirms the passenger frontal air bag inflator repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the truck has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall number 17V788 to ask for the free alternate passenger air bag inflator repair or current interim instructions.
- Bring any Ford recall notice you received, including any notice from the earlier 15V322 interim repair, so the dealer can confirm the final inflator work for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the truck until the air bag inflator repair is complete. Once the final dealer repair is available, a Ford technician will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free under the recall. If your Ranger already received the earlier interim inflator, it still needs to return to a dealer for the alternate inflator. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the original warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 11, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 12, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| December 12, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 22, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V788?
Recall 17V788 covers 328,213 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks with a passenger frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck until the Ford dealer repair is complete.
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 17V788. If it is, do not drive it to the dealer. Call a franchised Ford dealer, reference recall 17V788, and ask how the passenger air bag inflator repair will be handled.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. Ford's remedy says dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge.
What does do not drive mean for this Ford Ranger recall?
Do not drive means the truck should stay parked until the recall repair is complete. Ford advised owners not to drive these Rangers because the passenger air bag inflator can rupture in a crash that deploys the passenger frontal air bag.
What if my Ranger had the earlier air bag recall repair?
Your truck still needs this recall checked. Recall 17V788 supersedes recall 15V322, which was an interim repair. Ford says vehicles repaired under the earlier campaign need to return to a dealer for an alternate passenger air bag inflator.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V788000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V788 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V788000 |
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 →