Ford and Mazda are intensifying their recall efforts, urging owners of 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks to cease driving the vehicles immediately due to dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Federal regulators are recommending that owners tow their trucks to dealerships for replacement of the defective components.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the recall now affects 30,603 Ford Rangers in the U.S., an increase from previous figures. Mazda has expanded its recall to include 1,955 B-Series trucks from the same model year, up from an initial 160. Both companies will handle towing and parts replacement at no cost to the owners. Ford also offers loaner vehicles to affected customers.
The Takata airbag defect has been linked to 15 fatalities in the U.S. and is part of one of the largest and most complex recalls in automotive history, covering 37 million vehicles across various models and years. This marks the second stop-driving notice for these 2006 pickups. The first advisory was issued in January 2023 following a fatal incident involving a Takata airbag.
David Friedman of Consumer Reports criticized the automotive industry for its delayed response to airbag safety issues, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and proactive measures. “Automakers must act decisively and transparently regarding known airbag risks,” Friedman stated. He urged Ford to make its testing data public and for NHTSA to enhance oversight of Takata-related recalls.
Ford expanded its recall after receiving new data indicating a heightened risk in the additional trucks. The company’s spokesperson, Elizabeth Weigandt, noted that the expanded recall was based on updated safety information, although other vehicles from the 2006 model year have not been included due to insufficient evidence of similar risks.
NHTSA is actively working with Ford, Mazda, and Takata to address the issue and is reviewing other model years for potential defects. The trucks affected by this latest recall were produced at Ford’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant during specific periods in 2005. The recall encompasses all Ford Rangers from 2004 to 2006 built in North America, along with certain 2007 to 2011 models.
