More Auto Recalls: Ford Airbag Glitch, Toyota Pickup Truck Suspensions

By Admin on October 01, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

In a year in which automakers have recalled a record-breaking 45 million vehicles, automaker Ford announced last that it was recalling 850.000 vehicles for an electrical glitch that could prevent air bags from being deployed in an accident, followed by an announcement from Toyota this week that it was recalling 790,000 Tacoma pickups for faulty rear suspension that can damage the vehicle's gas tank or brake system.

The Ford recall includes 745,000 vehicles in the United States, 82,000 in Canada, and another 20,000 in Mexico, reports The Detroit News. The Toyota recall affects model year 2005-2011 Tacoma pickups worldwide, according to Auto World News.

Ford Models Recalled Include Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ

The recalled Ford vehicles may have a problem with a module that controls the vehicle's restraint systems -- like the front and side impact airbags. A short circuit in the module could cause these restraints to fail in the event of a crash. This defect could also cause malfunctions in other systems that rely on data from the module such as stability control.

The vehicles affected by the latest recall are all 2013-14 models, including:

  • C-MAX vehicles built at the Michigan Assembly Plant from January 19, 2012 to November 21 2013
  • Fusion vehicles built at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant from February 3 2012 to August 24, 2013
  • Escape vehicles built at the Louisville Assembly Plant from October 5, 2011 to November 1, 2013
  • Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant from April 25, 2012 to September 30, 2013

No injuries have been reported in connection with the recall. However, similar electrical glitches have been the subject of several high-profile recalls this year. An electrical issue in General Motors vehicles that is the subject ongoing recall of over three million vehicles has so far been linked to at least 19 deaths.

Toyota Recall Includes Four-Wheel Drive, Pre-Runner Tacomas from 2005-2011

The Toyota recall is due to reports of corrosion in the recalled vehicle's rear suspension system. Fractures in the leaf springs could cause the springs to fracture and damage other surrounding components, including the gas tank, leading to an increased risk of fire.

Like the Ford recall, there have so far been no reports of injuries linked to the defective suspension, though complaints from vehicle owners go back as far as 2011. The recall includes both four-wheel and pre-runner versions of the Toyota Tacoma in the model years 2005 through 2011.

Find out whether your car is affected by these or other recalls by using the NHTSA VIN search.

For more information of vehicle recalls including your rights as the owner of a recalled vehicle, check out FindLaw's Learn About the Law section on Vehicle Recalls and Defects.

Related Resources:

Copied to clipboard