(UNDATED) – Ford Motor Company must recall 3 million vehicles with potentially defective driver-side Takata airbags, the U.S. auto safety regulator said, rejecting a bid by the second-largest U.S. automaker to avoid a recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was denying petitions filed by Ford and Mazda Motor Corp in 2017 seeking to avoid recalling vehicles with potentially dangerous inflators. The decision also will require Mazda to recall and repair driver air bags in approximately 5,800 vehicles.
The recalls will cover various vehicles from 2006 through 2012 model years.
The recall will apply to various Ford Ranger, Fusion, Edge, Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKX vehicles, along with Mazda 2007–2009 model year B-Series vehicles.
The defect in the airbags causes the airbag inflators to rupture sending potentially deadly metal fragments flying – especially after long-term exposure to high humidity.
Takata inflators have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people worldwide and 18 in the United States, and over 400 reported injuries.
