Peter Lyon
August 15, 2024
Motorists should listen up—there are new warnings out about airbags, and they’re not good. As it turns out, Ford and Mazda are now telling customers not to drive some older models equipped with faulty airbags that were recalled years ago but never replaced by their owners.
The warnings are an urgent reminder of the danger from the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history, affecting 67 million Takata airbags in tens of millions of vehicles.
Even minor crashes can cause the affected cars’ airbag to explode, sending out metal fragments that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Some 27 people in the U.S. have been killed and at least 400 injured by exploding Takata airbag inflators, NHTSA says. Ford and Mazda North American Operations issued urgent “Do Not Drive” warnings Tuesday for more than 457,000 vehicles with recalled, unrepaired Takata airbags.
The affected models include Mustangs and Mazda6 cars
The recall includes Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles from the 2004 to 2014 model years, including Ranger pickup trucks, Mustang and GT sports cars, Fusion sedans and Edge SUVs. Recalled Mazdas are of the same general vintage, and include Mazda6 sedans, CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, and B-series pickups.
The replacement airbag is free, and Ford and Mazda are offering free towing, mobile repair and, if necessary, loaner vehicles.
Many of the unrepaired vehicles are older and often on their second or third owner, so it’s much more difficult to notify them about outstanding recalls.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Folks, if you car has had a recall notice in the past, and you—for whatever reason—let it slide, we highly recommend that you contact your local dealer and have the correction made as quickly as possible. After all, you life might be on the line. Motorists can check for recalls on their car by entering their license plate number or vehicle identification number on NHTSA’s recall website.
