A consumer alert was issued Aug. 13 for more than 457,000 Ford and Mazda models equipped with recalled, unrepaired Takata airbags. The “do not drive” warning includes Ford Ranger 2004-2011 truck models. The complete consumer advisory can be viewed on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
This “do not drive” advisory comes after three past safety recalls—the first from 2015—to encourage vehicle owners to complete the recall repairs, according to Ford. This is the second Takata-related “do not drive” warning issued by Ford.
Ford has tried to contact customers about these recalls with 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 the Takata recalls.
See also: Recall Roundup: New safety recalls issued for commercial trucks and pickups
According to NHTSA, vehicle owners should check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall by visiting NHTSA.gov/recalls and entering the license plate or VIN. If affected, owners should contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer. Ford and Mazda are offering free towing, mobile repair, and if necessary, loaner vehicles.
Some of the affected vehicles are more than 20 years old, which increases the risk of an airbag rupturing in a crash. If an explosion occurs, it can severely injure or kill vehicle occupants. To date, NHTSA has confirmed 27 people in the U.S. were killed by defective Takata airbags that exploded. At least 400 people in the U.S. reportedly have been injured by exploding Takata airbag inflators. Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata airbags.
