2023 Ford F-150 Front Air Bag Recall (23V072)

Recall 23V072 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Ford F-150 in recall 23V072?

The instrument panel top cover on the passenger-side may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 vehicles. The instrument panel top cover on the passenger-side may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2023 F-150 with recall 23V072?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the frontal.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V072?

Recall 23V072 covers 321 vehicles: 2023 Ford F-150.

NHTSA lists 321 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the F-150 front air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the passenger instrument panel top cover, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the passenger instrument panel top cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 16, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C01.

When was recall 23V072 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V072 to NHTSA on February 10, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 16, 2023.

This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your F-150 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my F-150 is part of recall 23V072?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V072 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V072000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should F-150 owners do about recall 23V072?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V072000 applies to your F-150.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the frontal happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are F-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 408 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 23V072 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 408 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2023 Ford F-150: 408 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

My Ford F150 was hit by another vehicle going at least 45 mph on the passenger which push my vehicle into another vehicle. However, the airbags was never deployed which cause injury to my right side from steering wheel.

2023 Ford F-150 owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11637210, filed January 20, 2025

Can recall 23V072 make my F-150 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this frontal recall means their F-150 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Ford F-150 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the F-150 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V072