Recall 20V791 covers 12 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect and Ecosport vehicles with air bag modules missing booster propellant. Free repair at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 12 2019-2020 Transit Connect and Ecosport vehicles because the driver-side or passenger-side frontal air bag module is missing first-stage booster propellant and a sleeve. In a crash, the air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury, and Ford dealers will replace the affected module free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The frontal air bag module in the 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect and Ecosport is the crash-protection unit built into the driver or passenger side of the vehicle. In a frontal crash, the module uses an inflator charge to deploy the air bag at the right point in the crash sequence. The first-stage booster propellant and sleeve are part of that controlled deployment.
In NHTSA campaign 20V791, certain modules were built without that first-stage booster propellant and sleeve. Ford traced the issue to supplier manufacturing, where a misaligned production fixture and booster charge mis-positioning lifted those parts out of place during assembly. Affected vehicles received suspect air bag modules that do not match the replacement modules Ford identified for the repair.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is inside the air bag module, so an owner is not given a normal driving symptom to catch it before the air bag is needed.
Who's affected?
Covers Transit Connect and Ecosport models from 2019 and 2020, with driver-side and passenger-side front air bag modules identified separately.
| 2019 Ford Transit Connect | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Transit Connect | front air bag |
| 2020 Ford Transit Connect | front air bag |
| 2020 Ford Transit Connect | front air bag |
| 2020 Ford Ecosport | front air bag |
| 2020 Ford Ecosport | front air bag |
| Units affected | 12 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An affected air bag module will not deploy as intended in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. There is no warning sign that tells you the module is affected, so confirm the recall by VIN and schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect or Ecosport is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free frontal air bag module replacement that fixes the air bag deployment defect.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V791 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and keep extra distance because the affected frontal air bag will not deploy as intended in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the affected frontal air bag module on the driver or passenger side, depending on the vehicle. The module is replaced because it is missing the booster propellant and sleeve needed for proper air bag operation. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Ford is not offering a separate reimbursement program because the original warranty program already provides a free repair for this concern. Ask the service desk how the original warranty applies if you have prior paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 17, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 18, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| December 18, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 28, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 1, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 18, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V791?
Recall 20V791 covers 12 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect and 2020 Ford Ecosport vehicles with frontal air bag modules missing the first-stage booster propellant and sleeve. The affected air bag module will not deploy as intended in a crash. Ford dealers replace the module for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect or Ecosport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V791. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule replacement of the affected driver-side or passenger-side frontal air bag module. Reference Ford recall number 20C26 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers replace the affected driver-side or passenger-side frontal air bag module free of charge, regardless of where you bought the vehicle.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced air bag protection in a crash. The affected frontal air bag module is missing the first-stage booster propellant and sleeve, so it will not deploy as intended. If your VIN is included, schedule the free dealer repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V791000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V791 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V791000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →