Ford recalls more than 150,000 vehicles in North America after reportedly losing track of defective airbags that could explode and hurl shrapnel into the vehicle compartment. According to a report in the New York Post, the recalls are part of a massive, worldwide fallout from these dangerous airbag inflators. Ford said it could not locate 45 obsolete Takata airbags that may have been installed in order Ford Ranger pickup trucks. So, it is recalling 153,000 Rangers from 2004 to 2006 to check for them.
Details of the Recall
In a second smaller recall, Ford has also identified 1,100 other vehicles that may have received the dangerous airbags in collision repairs. Those vehicles include some 2004-2011 Rangers, some 2005-2014 Mustangs, certain 2006 Ford GTs, some 2008-2012 Fusions, and certain 2007-2010 Ford Edge SUVs. Also covered are some 2009-2011, Mercury Milans, certain 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZs, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX SUVs.
Owners of these affected vehicles will receive notifications next month to bring in their cars, trucks or SUVs to the dealership for inspections and, possibly, airbag replacements. Ford said it does not know of any crashes, injuries or fatalities due to these faulty airbags and is checking the vehicles at the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So far, faulty Takata airbag inflators have caused at least 27 deaths and 400 injuries worldwide.
The defective Takata airbags contain the chemical ammonium nitrate, which creates a small explosion to deploy the airbags in the event of a crash. However, this chemical could deteriorate over time, especially in regions where there is high heat and humidity. This causes the metal canister that encloses the airbag to explode, sending shrapnel flying into the vehicle compartment. The faulty airbag issue caused the largest series of auto recalls in history with more than 100 million recalls globally, of which 67 million were in the United States.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Takata airbag inflators have caused fatalities and severe and catastrophic injuries. Millions of vehicles are out on our roadways equipped with these dangerous airbags. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a faulty Takata airbag inflator, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the automaker and the manufacturer of the defective airbag.
If you have lost a loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love, care and companionship. An experienced auto defect lawyer can advise you regarding your legal rights and options.
Source: https://nypost.com/2021/02/18/ford-recalls-more-than-150k-vehicles-after-losing-track-of-faulty-air-bags/
