U.S. confirms new Ford demise on account of defective Takata airbag inflator

WASHINGTON — U.S. auto security regulators on Thursday confirmed a brand new demise tied to a faulty airbag inflator in a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup and reiterated pressing requires house owners to get their automobiles repaired.

Chrysler guardian Stellantis earlier this month urged house owners of 276,000 older U.S. automobiles to right away cease driving them after three deaths have been reported in crashes tied to defective Takata inflators over the previous seven months.

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) stated the 2006 Ranger in a deadly crash in Florida in June had already been underneath a “don’t drive” warning on the time of the incident, the place the Takata driver’s aspect airbag inflator ruptured.

Greater than 30 deaths worldwide — together with not less than 23 U.S. fatalities — and a whole lot of accidents in varied automakers’ automobiles since 2009 have been linked to Takata airbag inflators that may explode, unleashing steel shrapnel inside automobiles and vehicles. There have additionally been greater than 400 U.S. accidents reported.

Over the previous decade, greater than 67 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled in the US and greater than 100 million worldwide, within the greatest auto security callback in historical past.

Ford stated that earlier than the newest Takata crash demise, it had despatched greater than 100 notices to the proprietor’s house for the recall, together with a number of textual content messages, and had a canvasser go to the house to attempt to schedule the restore for this automobile.

Ford stated it had a 97% % completion price.

“We’re urging all remaining affected house owners to not drive these automobiles and to contact Ford to schedule a free restore,” a spokesman stated.

The automaker beforehand confirmed two different Takata deaths in older Ranger pickup vehicles — together with a July 2017 crash demise in West Virginia.

NHTSA says the Takata remembers have been spurred by propellant that might break down after long-term publicity to high-temperature fluctuations and humidity.

A lot of the deaths reported have been in Honda Motor automobiles.

Final yr, NHTSA opened a probe into 30 million extra automobiles constructed by practically two dozen automakers which have doubtlessly faulty Takata inflators.

Thousands and thousands of automobiles coated by the recall with harmful airbag inflators are nonetheless on the street. To verify in case your automobile is certainly one of them, go to NHTSA’s recall web site and enter your VIN to verify for this or every other open recall. Whether it is, contact a dealership in your model to schedule a free restore.