Future Ford Vehicles Could Get Full Width Side Curtain Airbags

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for full width side curtain airbags that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on October 28^th, 2024, published on July 15^th, 2025, and assigned serial number 12358461.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford has filed a tremendous number of patents revolving around one particular concept in recent years – airbags – giving us proposals to place those safety devices in all kinds of places, both inside and outside vehicles. This expansive list includes ideas for a partition airbag used in police vehicles, a pillar-supported airbag, and a deployable brace with airbags, to name just a few. Now, we have yet another one to add to the ever-growing list – this time, an idea for full width side curtain airbags that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

In this case, Ford proposes placing one gigantic airbag inside of its future vehicles, which would span the entire side of the cabin, covering both the front and rear doors, if applicable. As is the case with airbags in general, this one would inflate in the event that a collision is imminent, providing extra protection for occupants in the event of a side crash, specifically. Given the desire to improve safety in vehicles and reduce traffic deaths, generally speaking, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it come to fruition one day, either.

“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”