Ford and Mazda Warn Drivers of Dangerous Airbags

In a significant safety alert, Ford and Mazda have advised owners of over 475,000 older vehicles in the U.S. to refrain from driving them due to potentially hazardous Takata airbag inflators. The warning, issued on Tuesday, affects more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models from 2004 to 2014, alongside nearly 83,000 Mazdas from 2003 to 2015. These vehicles, previously recalled, have not undergone necessary repairs, raising concerns about the risk of airbag inflators exploding during crashes. The Takata inflators, which utilize volatile ammonium nitrate, have been linked to at least 27 fatalities and over 400 injuries in the U.S. alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has highlighted that the age of the airbags, some over 20 years old, contributes to the likelihood of rupture, especially when exposed to heat and humidity. This defect is part of the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, with approximately 100 million inflators recalled globally. Affected Ford models include the Ranger, Mustang, and Fusion, while Mazda models include the Mazda 6 and RX-8. The NHTSA has urged vehicle owners to verify if their cars are impacted by visiting their website. Ford and Mazda are providing free towing, mobile repairs, and loaner vehicles to facilitate the replacement of these dangerous inflators, emphasizing the severe risks associated with even minor accidents involving these faulty airbags.