Ford Ordered to Recall 3 Million Vehicles Due to Potential Air Bag Concerns

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The U.S. Department of Transportation ordered Ford Motor to recall 3 million older vehicles due to concerns over airbag inflators in the vehicles.
• According to Ford, the recall may cost them an estimated $610 million.
• The recall was ordered following the NHTSA denial to the 2017 Ford petition seeking to avoid recalling the vehicles.

Ford Motor Co. will recall 3 million vehicles over potential concerns with their airbag inflators.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered Ford earlier this week to issue the recall due to driver-side airbag inflators issues. The airbags could burst during a crash and send potentially deadly metal fragments, according to a CNBC report.

According to the automaker, the recall will cost them an estimated $610 million.

In 2017, the NHTSA denied a petition by Ford Motor seeking to avoid recalling the vehicles with the potentially dangerous airbags. Auto supplier Takata produced the airbags.

The recall will include approximately 2.7 million vehicles in the U.S. and about 300,000 vehicles in Canada and other locations.

Affected vehicles include model years 2006 through 2012 with the inclusion of the Ford Ranger (2007-2011), Fusion (2006-2012), Edge (2007-2010), Lincoln MKZ/Zephyr (2006-2012), MKX (2007-2010) and Mercury Milan (2006-2011) vehicles.

There are still at least 17 million vehicles with Takata airbags that have yet to be repaired, the NHTSA said earlier this month.

According to Reuters, Takata inflators have caused at least 18 deaths in the United States and 27 people worldwide. More than 400 injuries were reported.

In a statement, the NHTSA said the “evidence makes clear that these inflators pose a significant safety risk,” per Reuters.

Ford also published a statement saying, “We believe our extensive data demonstrated that a safety recall was not warranted for the driver-side airbag. However, we respect NHTSA’s decision and will issue a recall,” Fox Business reported. 

The auto safety agency will also order Mazda to recall and repair driver airbags in about 5,800 of their own vehicles.

To owners of vehicles that are included in the recall, they should check the NHTSA recalls website for details.

Source: People