Ford Motor Company issued a ‘Do Not Drive’ directive pertaining to approximately 2,900 of its 2006 Ranger pickups. The warning relates to a problem with defective Takata Airbags that were installed in the vehicles. According to Ford, the airbags could explode and shoot hot metal shrapnel into the vehicle compartments — potentially killing the occupants inside. Even worse, according to Ford, the airbags could explode at any moment.
Ford issued this warning last week, and now two U.S. senators have asked the Department of Transportation why the ‘Do Not Drive’ directive doesn’t pertain to more vehicles. Don’t other Fords contain the same Takata Airbags? Why is the danger so urgent for these specific vehicles alone?
According to Ford Motor Company, it recently confirmed that a second Takata Airbag explosion death has happened relating to a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup. As a result, the automaker has asked certain drivers to refrain from using the vehicles until the dangerous and defective parts can be replaced.
The two senators, Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey, wrote in response to the ‘Do Not Drive’ directive that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) should “swiftly and proactively address the deadly defect in Takata airbags and provide consumers with appropriate notice regarding the defect’s serious potential risk to life.”
According to Ford, it is offering to tow affected 2006 trucks to area dealerships to have the airbag problems corrected. Ford claims it will offer free loaner vehicles to affected customers.
Hopefully, no further airbag-related accidents or injuries will happen before Ford can fix all of these affected vehicles. If you do happen to get hurt by a defective airbag, however, you may want to educate yourself on your legal rights and options as the victim of automaker negligence.
Source: Business Insider, “U.S. senators question extent of Ford ‘Do Not Drive’ warning on airbags,” David Shepardson, Jan. 19, 2018