The faulty Takata airbag inflator recall continues to cause problems for automakers with Ford issuing a Do-Not-Drive Advisory to owners of Ford vehicles that have been part of the three recalls involving the dangerous inflators who have not yet had their vehicles repaired.
Ford issued a Do-Not-Drive Advisory on thousands of vehicles equipped with faulty Takata airbags.
Company officials claim there are about 765,600 inflators in Ford and Lincoln vehicles affected. Closer to home, there are approximately 374,300 inflators in the U.S. that haven’t been replaced.
“This do-not-drive advisory is the second Takata-related do-not-drive recall advisory issued by Ford and it is intended to encourage owners to complete the recall repairs immediately,” the company said in a statement.
The first of the recalls went out in 2015, after the first examples of the non-desiccated airbag inflators exploded sending metal and plastic pieces into the cabins of vehicles. More than two dozen people have been killed and hundreds injured — in all vehicles using the inflators — during the course of the last decade.
Reaching out
Vehicles equipped with the faulty Takata airbags have been subject to three separate recalls.
Ford, like other automakers, engaged in several campaigns to warn owners of affected vehicles of the dangers of the inflators and encouraged them to bring their vehicles in for repair.
The company says it has tried more than 121 million outreach attempts in the U.S. alone, hoping to get all of the inflators replaced.
The campaigns have included letters, phone calls, text messages and more than 1 million visits to the homes of vehicle owners. About 95% of U.S. customers have completed the recalls.
Affected vehicles
Ford wants owners of 2004 -2006 Ranger small pickups to bring the trucks in for repair.
The do-not-drive advisory applies to all customers who have not completed recalls 15S21, 17S42 and 19S01, including driver and passenger airbag inflators in:
- 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks
- 2005-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles
- 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles
And passenger airbag inflators in:
- 2006-2012 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr vehicles
- 2007-2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles
- 2007-2011 Ford Ranger trucks
Parts are available now. 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.
I have one of these mustangs that are on this list. The car is currently in Finland and it has rebuilt title. The Finnish Ford importer refused to do this recall to my car because it is with rebuilt title. They told me just to continue driving and do not care about those airbags. Who is responsible if something happens?
Do NOT ignore the recall. The importer should take action. There is a risk with older Takata airbags that could cause shrapnel to fly into the passenger compartment if triggered. If need be, reach out to the factory.
Paul E.