DETROIT — In a stark warning issued Tuesday, Ford and Mazda have alerted owners of over 475,000 older vehicles in the U.S. to immediately cease driving them due to unresolved issues with dangerous Takata air bag inflators. These inflators can explode with excessive force during a crash, turning metal canisters into deadly shrapnel capable of causing severe injuries or fatalities.
The warning concerns more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models from the 2004 to 2014 model years, and nearly 83,000 Mazdas spanning the 2003 to 2015 model years. Despite previous recalls, many of these vehicles remain unfixed, posing a persistent danger to drivers and passengers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emphasized the urgency, explaining that the faulty inflators use volatile ammonium nitrate to inflate the air bags. Over time, exposure to high temperatures and humidity can degrade this chemical, increasing the likelihood of an explosive malfunction. To date, 27 lives have been lost in the U.S. due to these defective inflators, with over 400 people injured. Globally, at least 35 deaths have been reported in countries like Malaysia and Australia.
Ford models currently under this critical warning include the 2004 to 2011 Ranger pickups, 2005 through 2014 Mustangs, 2005 and 2006 Ford GTs, 2006 through 2012 Fusions, and 2007 through 2010 Edge SUVs. Lincoln and Mercury vehicles at risk consist of the 2006 to 2012 Milan, MKZ, and Zephyr, as well as the 2007 to 2010 MKX.
Mazda’s affected vehicles encompass the 2004 to 2009 B-Series pickup, 2003 to 2013 Mazda 6, the 2006 and 2007 Speed6, and the 2004 to 2011 RX-8. Additionally, the 2004 to 2006 MPV, 2007 to 2012 CX-7, and the 2007 to 2015 CX-9 are also included in the warning.
The Takata air bag recall saga marks the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, involving at least 67 million inflators. Despite widespread efforts, many inflators remain unaddressed. Globally, around 100 million inflators have been recalled. The severity of the crisis pushed Takata into bankruptcy.
NHTSA advises vehicle owners to check the status of their inflators by visiting its website and entering their vehicle identification or license plate numbers. Ford and Mazda also provide recall information on their respective websites. If an unrepaired Takata inflator is identified, owners should stop driving the vehicle immediately and contact a dealer to arrange for a repair. Both Ford and Mazda are offering complimentary towing or mobile repairs, along with loaner vehicles if required.
“Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries,” NHTSA stated, highlighting the heightened risk for older vehicles.
Ford reported that globally, over 765,000 inflators in Ford and Lincoln vehicles are under a “do not drive” directive until replacements are made. In the U.S., the company has conducted more than 121 million attempts to reach owners via emails, phone calls, text messages, and personal visits. These efforts have been largely successful, with over 95% of affected U.S. customers having their inflators replaced.
The gravity of the Takata inflator issue has prompted similar warnings from other automakers, including Nissan, Honda, Stellantis, BMW, and Toyota.
