admin Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles all over world to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel.
The move includes over 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history. Included models are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang.
Some of the recalls may be limited to specific geographic areas of the U.S. Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate air bags. But it can deteriorate over time because of heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister built to contain the explosion. At least 23 people have been killed all over the world plus hundreds injured by the inflators.
Ford says it doesn’t know of any injuries in vehicles included in this recall. Dealers will replace the inflators. Ford will inform owners about the recall starting on Feb. 18, and the company has replacement parts available for dealers to order, stated spokeswoman Monique Brentley. In previous Takata recalls, parts availability had been an issue.
Nearby three years later the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took over management of recalls involving Takata inflators, one third of the recalled inflators still have not been replaced, as per an annual report from the government and a court-appointed monitor. The report states 16.7 million faulty inflators out of 50 million under recall have yet to be replaced. And 10 million more inflators are scheduled to be recalled this month, including the Ford vehicles.
Safety advocates stated the completion rate should be far higher given the danger associated with the inflators. The recalls forced Takata of Japan to seek bankruptcy protection and sell most of its assets to pay for the fixes.
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