Recall 18V022 affects 33,310 2006 Ford Ranger trucks for a passenger air bag inflator explosion risk. Do not drive. Free repair at a Ford dealer.
In a crash that deploys the passenger frontal air bag, the inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive this Ranger, even for short trips. If it must move, ask the dealer about towing. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 33,310 2006 Ranger trucks under recall 18V022 because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. Do not drive these trucks until a Ford dealer completes the free repair; metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death if the passenger frontal air bag deploys.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2006 Ford Ranger is the metal canister inside the air bag module that fills the bag in a crash. In normal operation, the inflator burns propellant in a controlled burst so the passenger air bag opens at the right speed and pressure.
In recall 18V022, the affected Rangers were built with Takata single stage passenger inflators that use a PSAN based propellant without a drying agent. During deployment, excessive pressure inside the inflator can rupture the metal body instead of only filling the air bag. Ford's repair replaces the recalled inflator with a kit that does not use ammonium nitrate as the gas generator.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not drive this Ranger until the air bag inflators have been replaced, because the rupture happens only when the air bag deploys.
Who's affected?
| 2006 Ford Ranger | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 33,310 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck is on the list. 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 explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive this Ranger, even for short trips. If it must move, ask the dealer about towing. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006 Ford Ranger is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the truck until the passenger-side 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 your nearest franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free passenger-side air bag inflator replacement that fixes the inflator explosion hazard during air bag deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V022 and Ford recall 18S02 when you call.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. The repair is available now, and parts and labor are free under the recall. Do not drive the truck until this inflator replacement is complete. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through Ford's original warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program, because that warranty program provides a free repair for this concern. Ask the service desk how the warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| January 11, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 16, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 12, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| February 12, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 13, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V022?
Recall 18V022 covers 33,310 2006 Ford Ranger trucks with passenger-side frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck until a Ford dealer replaces the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2006 Ford Ranger is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 18V022. If it is, do not drive it. Call a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, reference recall 18V022, and ask how the truck should be moved for repair.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford dealers will replace the passenger-side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for this recall repair.
What does do not drive mean for this Ford Ranger recall?
Do not drive the truck, even for short trips, until the dealer completes the inflator replacement. The risk is tied to air bag deployment in a crash. Ask the Ford dealer about towing or another safe way to get the truck to service.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V022?
The passenger-side frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. In a crash that triggers the passenger air bag, sharp metal fragments can strike people inside the truck and cause serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle until the free dealer repair is complete.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V022000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V022 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V022000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →