Ford is urging owners to get their Takata airbags replaced as soon as possible
- Ford is urging owners of popular vehicles to stop driving unless they’ve had their Takata airbags replaced.
- Despite dozens of deaths and plenty of news coverage, 5% of recalled Fords haven’t had their airbags replaced.
- Vehicles impacted by the Do Not Drive order include the Edge, Fusion, Mustang, and Ranger.
Ford is issuing a rare Do Not Drive order involving an assortment of vehicles due to Takata airbags. The latter have killed dozens of people and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are over six million still in service.
This, unfortunately, can have deadly results as we’ve seen time and time again. Less than two years ago, a 23-year-old driver was killed when the airbag in a Ford Ranger exploded and spewed shrapnel, which turned a minor accident into a deadly crash.
More: Recalled Takata Airbag Kills Florida Driver, Turns Minor Accident Into Tragedy
The Do Not Drive order applies to vehicles that were subject to previous recalls that date back to 2015, but were never repaired. They include the 2005-2006 GT, 2005-2014 Mustang, and 2004-2011 Ranger. The 2007-2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX are also impacted as are the 2006-2012 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr.
If you own one of the aforementioned vehicles and haven’t had the Takata airbags replaced, STOP DRIVING IT. Contact your dealer immediately and they’ll arrange for a mobile service technician to come to you to replace the airbag or have the vehicle towed to the dealership for replacement. This will be done free of charge and dealers will even provide a loaner vehicle, if necessary. It might sound like an inconvenience, but it could literally safe your life or the life of someone you love.
Time isn’t on your side either as Ford noted, “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 says around 374,300 vehicles are impacted in the United States and they’ve made over 121 million outreach attempts in an effort to get all Takata airbags replaced. Despite countless letters, emails, phone calls, text messages, and in-person visits, 5% of recalled Fords haven’t had their airbags swapped out.
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