Ford and Mazda have issued a warning to the owners of over 475,000 older vehicles in the U.S., advising them not to drive these vehicles due to dangerous Takata airbag inflators that have not been replaced. The warning, issued on Tuesday, covers more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles from the 2004 through 2014 model years, as well as nearly 83,000 Mazdas from the 2003 through 2015 model years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has highlighted that these inflators can explode with excessive force in a crash, leading to the rupture of a metal canister and the ejection of fragments that can cause severe injuries or fatalities. Although these vehicles were previously recalled, the necessary repairs have not been completed.
Among the Ford models affected by the warning are the 2004 to 2011 Ranger pickups, 2005 through 2014 Mustangs, 2005 and 2006 Ford GTs, 2006 through 2012 Fusions, and 2007 through 2010 Edge SUVs. Mercury and Lincoln models covered include the Milan, MKZ, and Zephyr from 2006 through 2012, and the MKX from 2007 through 2010.
Mazda vehicles impacted by the warning include the 2004 to 2009 B-Series pickup, 2003 through 2013 Mazda 6, 2006 and 2007 Speed6, 2004 through 2011 RX-8, 2004 through 2006 MPV, 2007 through 2012 CX-7, and 2007 through 2015 CX-9.
The faulty Takata inflators, which utilize volatile ammonium nitrate to trigger airbag inflation during a crash, have resulted in 27 fatalities in the U.S. and over 400 injuries. Globally, at least 35 deaths have been linked to Takata inflators in countries such as Malaysia, Australia, and the U.S.
This safety concern has led to the largest auto recall in U.S. history, involving approximately 67 million Takata inflators. Despite the scale of the recall, many inflators remain unrepaired, with over 100 million recalled worldwide. The defective airbags pushed Takata into bankruptcy.
Owners can verify if their vehicles are affected by visiting the NHTSA website or the recall websites of Ford and Mazda. If a vehicle has an unrepaired Takata inflator, owners are urged to cease driving the vehicle and contact a dealer to schedule a repair appointment. Ford and Mazda are offering free towing, mobile repairs, and loaner vehicles if needed.
The NHTSA emphasized the serious risks posed by these airbags, stating that even minor accidents could trigger the airbags to explode, resulting in fatal or life-altering injuries. Ford has reached out to over 765,000 inflator-affected Ford and Lincoln vehicles globally, with more than 95% of U.S. customers having completed the necessary replacements.
Other automakers like Nissan, Honda, Stellantis, BMW, Toyota, and Mazda have also issued similar 'do not drive' warnings for vehicles equipped with Takata inflators.
