Ford has issued a critical reminder about defective Takata airbags still present in a significant number of vehicles. Today, the automaker announced a do-not-drive advisory affecting approximately 765,000 cars globally, with 374,300 of those in the United States. The affected vehicles are equipped with potentially hazardous old airbags that need immediate replacement.
The recall includes a range of models, from mainstream vehicles like the Ford Fusion and Edge to specialty cars like the first-generation Ford GT. Specifically, the recall covers:
Driver and Passenger Airbags:
- 2004-2006 Ford Ranger
- 2005-2014 Ford Mustang
- 2005-2006 Ford GT
Passenger Airbags:
- 2006-2012 Ford Fusion / Mercury Milan / Lincoln MKX / Lincoln Zephyr
- 2007-2010 Ford Edge / Lincoln MKX
- 2007-2011 Ford Ranger
Mazda has also issued a do-not-drive advisory, identifying approximately 83,000 vehicles in the United States with similar issues:
Driver and Passenger Airbags:
- 2004-2006 B-Series Pickup
- 2003-2008 Mazda6
- 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6
- 2004-2008 Mazda RX8
Passenger Airbags:
- 2007-2009 B-Series Pickup
- 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7
- 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9
- 2009-2013 Mazda6
- 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
- 2009-2011 Mazda RX8
The Takata airbag scandal, which began in 2013 with a recall of 3.6 million cars, has revealed widespread issues with the inflators in these airbags, leading to over 100 million vehicles being recalled worldwide. The defect can cause metal shrapnel to be expelled during an accident, posing serious risks. Takata’s bankruptcy and the resulting legal actions underscore the gravity of the situation. Both Ford and Mazda urge owners of affected vehicles to visit their dealerships immediately for a free airbag replacement.