Ford is recalling almost 391,000 Ranger pickups because the driver’s air bag inflators can explode with too much force and cause injuries.
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The new action brings to 28 million the number of Takata airbag inflators recalled worldwide.
One of the biggest auto safety recalls in the United States history is to become even larger than it already is, as a new campaign over Takata airbags is involving another 5 million cars.
Apparently, this move was partly prompted by the death of a man in SC after he hit a cow in his 2006 Ford Ranger pick-up, and metal from a ruptured inflator penetrated his neck when the airbags deployed.
An official at Japan’s transport ministry told Bloomberg that it is looking into the latest recalls, by Ford Motor Co., Honda, Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG, Audi AG, Mazda Motor Corp., Saab AB and BMW AG, over Takata airbags. Although it has some replacement parts available, the company is working with air bag makers to make additional inflators as soon as possible, spokesman John Cangany said. The report also said the meeting will aim to bust rumors about the company, which has been embroiled in controversy due to its faulty airbag inflators. No decision has been made about whether they will invest in a production joint venture, Hirokawa said.
Takata has struggled for years since its inflators were discovered to be defective.
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Takata shares plummeted 11 percent Monday.
