Ford issues do-not-drive advisory for vehicles with Takata air bag inflators
Adrienne RobertsFord Motor Co. on Tuesday issued a do-not-drive advisory for owners of certain vehicles equipped with Takata air bag inflators who have not yet had their vehicles repaired under three past safety recalls.
The advisory applies to all remaining Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the U.S. with Takata air bag inflators that need to be repaired and whose owners have never been in for a repair, Ford spokesperson Maria Buczkowski said. About 672,600 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with 765,600 total air bag inflators are impacted globally, Buczkowski said. In the U.S., 318,700 vehicles with 374,300 total air bag inflators are included.
This do-not-drive advisory is the second Takata-related do-not-drive recall advisory issued by the Dearborn-based automaker, and comes as other automakers, including Mazda, Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have taken similar actions.
Ford issued the first recall related to Takata air bags in 2015 after it was found that the inflators' mental canisters degrade with age, heat and humidity and can, without warning, become bombs. About 67 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled, making it the largest automotive recall in U.S. history. Takata air bag explosions in the U.S. have killed 27 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and have injured hundreds with sharp metal fragments.
The do-not-drive advisory applies to drivers who have not completed recalls for driver and passenger air bag inflators in these vehicles:
- 2004-06 Ford Ranger trucks
- 2005-14 Ford Mustang vehicles
- 2005-06 Ford GT vehicles
It also applies to passenger air bag inflators in:
- 2006-12 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr vehicles
- 2007-10 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles
- 2007-11 Ford Ranger trucks
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Ford is also in the midst of a "recall of a recall," reinspecting more than a quarter-million vehicles after the company found that air bags may have been incorrectly installed or the fixes were never made when car owners took their vehicles in to get repaired.
Ford said parts are available now and customers can request mobile service, or dealers will tow vehicles directly to the dealership for repair. Dealerships can also provide a free interim loaner vehicle.
Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com