WASHINGTON — U.S. auto security regulators on Thursday confirmed a brand new dying tied to a faulty airbag inflator in a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup and reiterated pressing requires house owners to get their automobiles repaired.
Chrysler dad or mum Stellantis earlier this month urged house owners of 276,000 older U.S. automobiles to instantly cease driving them after three deaths had 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 below 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 a minimum of 23 U.S. fatalities — and a whole lot of accidents in numerous automakers’ automobiles since 2009 had been linked to Takata airbag inflators that may explode, unleashing steel shrapnel inside vehicles and vans. 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 USA and greater than 100 million worldwide, within the largest auto security callback in historical past.
Ford stated that earlier than the latest Takata crash dying, it had despatched greater than 100 notices to the proprietor’s dwelling 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 car.
Ford stated it had a 97% p.c completion charge.
“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 vans — together with a July 2017 crash dying in West Virginia.
NHTSA says the Takata recollects had 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 further automobiles constructed by practically two dozen automakers which have probably faulty Takata inflators.
Hundreds of thousands of automobiles lined by the recall with harmful airbag inflators are nonetheless on the street. To examine in case your car is considered one of them, go to NHTSA’s recall web site and enter your VIN to examine for this or some other open recall. Whether it is, contact a dealership to your model to schedule a free restore.
