Ford Motor Co. is issuing a recall for certain 2004 to 2006 Ranger vehicles due to an installation error with replacement front passenger airbag inflators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent a letter indicating that the recall affects 231,942 vehicles.
These cars had previously received replacement front passenger airbag inflators under a previous recall.
According to the NHTSA, an improperly installed inflator could lead to the passenger airbag not inflating correctly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. As part of the recall, dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger airbag inflator, if necessary, at no cost to the vehicle owner. Notification letters will be sent to owners of the affected vehicles on May 22.
This is not the first time Ford has had to recall Ranger pickups due to this issue. In February, the company recalled approximately 98,000 vehicles for the same problem. The recent recall adds approximately 133,000 more pickups to that total. Owners of affected vehicles can contact Ford customer service or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline for more information.
In a separate but related matter, BMW recently warned owners of approximately 90,000 older vehicles in the U.S. not to drive them due to the potential for air bags to explode in a crash. The warning applies to vehicles from the 2000 through 2006 model years that were previously recalled due to faulty and dangerous air bag inflators made by Takata.
Takata used ammonium nitrate to inflate air bags in a crash, but the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to heat and humidity. This deterioration can cause the metal canister to break apart, creating shrapnel that can injure or kill drivers and passengers.
Since 2009, at least 33 people worldwide have died due to exploding air bags made by Takata, with most of the deaths occurring in the United States. About 400 injuries have also been reported, with incidents occurring in Australia and Malaysia as well as the U.S.
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