Jan 2021

Ford Recalls Takata Airbag Inflators

Ford Motor Co. will recall 3 million vehicles for Takata airbag inflators that could rupture at a cost of approximately $610 million. NHTSA ordered Ford to issue the recall for driver-side airbag inflators, rejecting the automaker’s 2017 petition to avoid it. The defect, which in rare instances leads to airbag inflators rupturing and sending potentially deadly metal fragments flying, prompted the largest automotive recall in U.S. history of more than 67 million inflators. Worldwide, about 100 million inflators installed by 19 major automakers have been recalled. The recall includes 2.7 million U.S. vehicles and about 300,000 in Canada and other locations.

The Ford vehicles being recalled include various 2006-2012 model-year Ranger, Fusion, Edge, Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The vehicles were previously recalled for passenger-side inflators. Takata inflators have resulted in at least 400 injuries and 27 deaths worldwide — including 18 U.S. fatalities with two in previously recalled 2006 Ford Ranger trucks.