Urgent “Do Not Drive” warnings have been issued for over 457,000 Ford Motor Co. and Mazda North American Operations vehicles that may contain potentially deadly Takata airbags, the latest in a series of revelations highlighting persistent safety issues with the devices, which have been linked to graven injuries and deaths. Here’s a closer look at the vehicles affected by the alert, the reasoning behind the alert, and what owners ought to do.
Takata airBag recall backstory
It is known that the Takata recall, concerning airbags designed for millions of automobiles worldwide, might become one of the most significant in the automotive industry. It was discovered that Takata airbags tend to have inflators that could explode with too much force and project shrapnel into the cabin of the vehicle. This defect has caused at least 27 deaths and hundreds of other injuries in America. The recall process has serially been monitored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), where, as of now, 19.2 million vehicles in the U.S. have been returned due to these faulty airbags .
“Do Not Drive” alert specifics
On August 13, 2024, Ford and Mazda cautioned the owners of the listed vehicles not to drive with the air bags until they were substituted. The NHTSA has called the situation a critical one, and part of their press release reads, “If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective air bag is replaced.” Many of the affected cars have been on the road for a while, and the older age and exposure to heat and humidity might well make the explosion in a crash more likely, and injuries from the explosion could be lethal
Affected vehicle models
That “Do Not Drive” advisory applies to an alarming 457,183 vehicles sold by Ford and Mazda. Here are the specific models included:
Ford Vehicles – Affected – 374,290
- 2004 – 2006 Ford Ranger
- 2005 – 2014 Ford Mustang
- 2005 – 2006 Ford GT
- 2006 – 2002 Ford Fusion
- 2006 – 2012 Mercury Milan
- 2006 – 2012 Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr
- 2007 – 2010 Ford Edge
- 2007 – 2010 Lincoln MKX
- 2007 – 2011 Ford Ranger
Mazda Vehicles – Affected – 82,893
- 2004-2009 Mazda B-Series
- 2003-2013 Mazda6
- 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6
- 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
- 2004-2011 Mazda RX-8
- 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7
- 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9
Owners with the recalled vehicles, therefore, are directed to undertake that immediately. Ford, on the other hand, has ensured owners with such vehicle brands to have the airbags replaced or repaired without any penny to be spent by a vehicle owner. To access vehicle information regarding the subject of the recall, vehicle owners may input their Vehicle Identification Number at the following sites:
If you suspect that your vehicle has a safety defect not covered by this recall, you can report it to the NHTSA online or by calling their Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Still, for 457,000 of these Ford and Mazda vehicles, the notice on top of them is a “Do Not Drive” order, attesting to the severities of the danger these defective Takata airbags present for their owners. With the potential for life-threatening risk, those who own any of these affected vehicles should take every one of these notices very seriously and make arrangements for needed repairs as soon as possible. The automotive industry continues to address the fallout of the Takata airbag crisis, increasing vigilance for the safety of consumers.
