The Ford Ranger Still Has Deadly Takata Airbags
If you have a used Ford Ranger model, then you might need to take it in for service. Older Ford Ranger models have already faced two recalls related to deadly Takata airbags, but the problem still exists due to faulty inflators.
There’s another Ford Ranger recall due to Takata airbags
What in the world is going on with the Ford Ranger? It already had two previous recalls to address the dangerous Taka airbags, but the fixes didn’t provide a proper solution. Now there is a third recall!
According to Cars.com, the Ranger is attracting tons of attention after a recent death related to faulty airbag inflators. The driver of a 2006 Ranger died in an accident when the defective driver-side airbag ruptured.
The Ranger was under a no-drive order from 2018, but the driver may have ignored this notice or didn’t know about it. But there is also a growing trend related to drivers not checking their vehicles after recall notices and ignoring correspondence from automakers.
Currently, roughly 99,000 Ford Ranger models from 2004 – 2006 are at risk due to improper repairs related to two previous recalls about the same issue. The trucks were recalled in December 2017 and January 2018 due to faulty Takata inflators.
The inflators may degrade over time due to long-term exposure to humidity. As a result, the inflators have too much force during airbag deployment, sending fragments into the cabin.
This defect has been related to 20 deaths in the United States, and nearly 67 million inflators have been recalled in tens of millions of vehicles. Three are related to older ranger models.
Why did the Ranger fixes fail?
The first two Ford Ranger recalls related to Taka airbags involved replacing the inflators at no cost to owners. However, the new inflators were installed with the wrong orientation. As a result, the airbags may not properly inflate, increasing the risk of injuries.
About seven trucks have been identified with faulty replacement inflators. Ford is currently unaware of any accidents or deaths related to the incorrectly installed inflators.
Ford will begin notifying owners at risk by March 27. The notice could arrive in the mail. The reference number for this recall is 23S08. You can call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 with any related questions that you may have.
Also, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) to see if your truck is at risk.
You will need to take your truck to a local Ford dealership to have your truck inspected. The inflators will be reinstalled properly or replaced as needed at no cost to owners.
Is the Ranger safe to drive?
The Ford Ranger models at risk currently do not have a no-drive order. It should be fine to use your truck as normal. The driver that recently died didn’t have his Takata inflator replaced, so the original issue was never serviced.
Ford isn’t aware of any injuries or deaths related to the improperly installed inflators. That’s a pretty good sign. In situations like this, it’s best to wait for instructions from the automaker or the NHTSA.
Also, you don’t have to wait to be notified via mail if your truck is at risk. You can be proactive by looking up your V.I.N. and scheduling a maintenance appointment. It’s currently unclear how long the replacement process will take.
We hope the Ford Ranger models get the proper fix. We will continue following this story for updates, so stay tuned.
