Ford is urging owners of certain older models to park their cars and not drive them again until dealers have had the chance to replace dangerous airbag inflators that can kill drivers and passengers in an accident.
It’s the latest development in the ongoing Takata airbag recall – the largest recall in automotive history.
This latest order applies to the:
- 2004-2006 and 2007-2011 Ford Ranger
- 2005-2014 Ford Mustang
- 2005-2006 Ford GT
- 2006-2012 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr
- 2007-2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
Ford has issued a series of recalls of these cars to replace the inflators. Owners who have had those repairs completed can keep driving their cars. But the company warns owners who haven’t had the work done that the inflators grow more dangerous over time.
“The age of these vehicles makes it increasingly possible that a part inside the airbag will explode and expel sharp metal fragments during a crash. This could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Ford explains.
A Grenade in the Steering Wheel
Airbags function thanks to airbag inflators – tiny metal capsules full of chemicals that, in an accident, combine to create a rapidly expanding gas that fills an airbag. Now out of business, the Takata corporation built inflators for much of the global auto industry.
Takata inflators found their way into cars on nearly every continent, manufactured by more than 30 brands.
But the inflators have a deadly flaw. They’re designed to squirt gas out of a nozzle. But some can burst instead, sending hot metal shrapnel flying into the car’s cabin. That grows more likely over time as the chemicals in the inflators degrade.
Automakers have undertaken a massive project to replace them all with safer models.
But not every owner has responded. Ford says it knows of at least 374,300 inflators in the U.S. that needed replacement. It has contacted owners in the U.S. more than 121 million times, “including letters, emails, phone calls, text messages, and more than 1 million canvassing visits to customer homes. As a result, 95% of U.S. customers completed Takata recalls,” the company says.
The remaining 5% are in mortal danger, and are urged to stop driving their cars immediately.
Ford Will Pick Up Your Car, Give You a Loaner
Recall repairs are always free. Given the urgency of this one, Ford dealers will arrange to pick up the cars, repair them, and return them to owners.
Customers can request mobile service, or dealers will tow vehicles directly to the dealership for repair. Dealerships will also provide a free interim loaner vehicle, if necessary.
Ford will continue notifying known owners every month through a variety of communication channels with the updated do-not-drive advisory message. Owners can call (866) 436-7332 to make arrangements.
Many Automakers Have Now Done This
Ford is not alone. Within the last two years, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota have all urged drivers to park cars until dealers could replace Takata airbags.
Take this one seriously if you own an affected car. We’ve seen reports of drivers killed by Takata airbags after being notified of the danger dozens of times. Automakers consistently tell us it’s hard to get customers to take recalls seriously.
Ignoring this one could get someone you love killed.
