Ford and Mazda issued urgent “Do Not Drive” warnings for more than 457,000 vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. The Ford and Mazda vehicles covered by the warning were previously subject to more than 20 combined recalls, but have remained unrepaired.
Ford and Mazda owners have been instructed NOT to drive it until the repair is completed and the defective airbag is safe.
Thus far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that defective Takata airbags caused 27 deaths and 400 injuries in the United States. The Takata explosions are caused by the breakdown of the PSAN propellant in the inflators, which causes the propellant to burn too quickly. The rapid burning of the propellant will create more pressure than the inflator is designed to handle. Given that exploding Takata airbags are known to send shrapnel flying, even minor crashes can result in serious injuries or death.
The longer the airbag ages, the higher risk it poses to the driver. That’s why owners with older vehicle model years should be very wary of driving their vehicles without getting a repair.
Ford and Mazda’s “Do Not Drive” warnings cover the following Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda vehicles equipped with non-dessicated Takata airbags:
- 2004-2011 Ford Ranger
- 2005-2006 Ford GT
- 2005-2014 Ford Mustang
- 2005-2006 Ford GT
- 2006-2012 Ford Fusion
- 2006-2012 Lincoln MKZ/Zephyr
- 2006-2012 Mercury Milan
- 2007-2010 Ford Edge
- 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX
- 2004-2007 Mazda B-Series
- 2003-2013 Mazda6
- 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6
- 2004-2011 Mazda RX-8
- 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
- 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7
- 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9
In total, 374,290 Ford vehicles and 82,893 Mazda vehicles are covered by the “Do Not Drive” warning. Ford has previously recalled roughly three million vehicles with Takata airbags, a recall that had been predicted to cost $610 million. Ford had tried to sidestep such a massive recall by claiming that the desiccant-filled Takata airbags (which are not the same as the airbags covered under the latest Do Not Drive warning) sufficiently absorb moisture.
Other airbag types and manufacturers, such as ZF-TRW and ARC Automotive face similar allegations of explosions and risk to drivers.
After the Takata airbag epidemic bankrupted Takata, Joyson Safety Systems took over the company. Joyson investigated a whistleblower report into Takata’s falsified data on seat belt webbing inspections, which affected at least 12 auto manufacturers.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2019–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
