It’s been nine years since Ford, Mazda, and a whole host of other automakers first warned drivers of the dangers of airbag inflators manufactured by Takata. Unfortunately, according to the Ford, there are still as many as 374,300 such inflators driving around on streets here in the United States (765,600 globally). Mazda reports a further 83,000 vehicles. In light of this seemingly apathetic response, Ford, Mazda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have issued another do-not-drive advisory for the cars and trucks included in the original campaigns.
This is a seriously dangerous problem. Back in 2022, NHTSA confirmed the death of the driver in a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck after the steering-wheel-mounted airbag ruptured and sent shrapnel flying at the driver. At the time, NHTSA noted that there had been 23 fatalities in the U.S. due to ruptured airbag inflators.
According to the automakers, “The age of these vehicles makes it increasingly possible that a part inside the airbag will explode and expel sharp metal fragments during a crash. This could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers.”
Ford’s warning covers 374,290 model year 2004-2012 vehicles:
Mazda’s warning covers 82,893 model year 2003-2015 vehicles:
Ford notes that, like other automakers, it has made repeated efforts to alert owners to the dangers of potentially faulty airbag inflators, “with more than 121 million outreach attempts to date in the U.S. alone, including letters, emails, phone calls, text messages and more than 1 million canvassing visits to customer homes.” It will continue its efforts to get these dangerous parts replaced, noting that parts are on hand for replacement. Both Ford and Mazda are also offering free towing, mobile repair and, if necessary, loaner vehicles.
It bears repeating: Do not drive a vehicle equipped with one of these faulty airbag inflators. It literally could mean your life.
