Ford Motor Company continues to prioritize safety with its latest patent filing for full-width side curtain airbags—a forward-thinking innovation that could appear in future Ford vehicles. Filed in October 2024 and published in July 2025, this patent proposes a single, expansive airbag that stretches across the entire side of the vehicle’s interior, offering comprehensive protection for both front and rear passengers in the event of a side-impact collision.

This is just the latest in a series of airbag-related innovations from Ford. Previous patents have explored creative ways to deploy airbags in unique scenarios, including police vehicle partitions and external collision protection. The full-width side curtain airbag builds on these ideas, emphasizing Ford’s ongoing dedication to passenger safety, regardless of where you’re seated in the cabin.

If implemented, this feature would inflate rapidly before or during a side-impact crash, acting as a shield across the full length of the vehicle’s interior side. It would offer increased safety in real-world collisions—especially in larger vehicles with extended rear seating like SUVs or trucks—while potentially reducing injuries and fatalities.

Ford’s continued investment in developing advanced safety systems speaks to its customer-first approach. While there’s no official word yet on when or where this airbag technology will launch, it’s another clear sign that the Blue Oval is pushing to lead the industry in smart, life-saving innovations for the road ahead.