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Ford Expands Takata Airbag Recall Due to New Defect

By George Khoury, Esq. on March 03, 2017 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

When the Takata airbag recall was announced, millions of car owners were shocked to discover that their cars were on the list. According to reports, millions of consumers still have vehicles containing the defective Takata airbags from the first several rounds of recalls. Now, Ford Motor Co. has discovered that there is a defect in how the new Takata airbags are installed.

The initial recall included cars manufactured by Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and BMW. The sheer size of the recall required the NHSTA to take over coordination of the recall in order to prioritize which regions of the country got the replacement parts first.

What Caused the Recalls?

The initial Takata airbag recall was caused by the manufacturer opting to use a cheaper type of gas for inflating the airbag. The gas used can become volatile in high humidity areas, and rather than produce the necessary amount of propulsion to inflate the airbag, it can explode. When a defective airbag explodes, rather than inflate, it sends shrapnel flying at victims and becomes fatal. There have been nearly a dozen deaths, and many more injuries, caused by this defect.

Ford's latest round of Takata airbag recalls however is for a less extreme defect than the initial Takata recall which included their 2005-2014 Mustang, and 2005-2006 Ford GT. Essentially, the latest recall is the result of the airbags not fully inflating due to other components getting in the way. For owners of the affected models, recall notices should be forthcoming. Ford has issued the voluntary recall for the following models:

  • 2016-2017 Ford Edge
  • 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX
  • 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles

What Can You Do?

To check to see if your vehicle is subject to any recalls, including the Takata airbag recall, you can visit safercar.gov and enter in your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN number). VIN numbers can be found in many places. Perhaps the easiest place to find it will be on your insurance or registration documents. Additionally, VIN numbers are also located on stickers inside the door jambs, or on the dash board, usually in the driver's side lower corner of the windshield.

If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a faulty Takata airbag, you may want to contact an injury attorney to discuss your potential rights and remedies.

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