Ford has recalled vehicles with ARC airbags that can rupture and shoot out deadly pieces of metal, causing severe injury or death to people inside the vehicle.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ford airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or killed when a Ford airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Safety Officials Believe 52 Million Airbag Inflators Can Explode
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning that around 52 million airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive are defective because they can explode when the airbag deploys, shooting out deadly pieces of metal shrapnel.
Does My Ford Have a Defective ARC Airbag?
Ford may have installed ARC airbag inflators in Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles that were being produced between 2000 and 2018.
Ford and 11 other auto-makers installed defective ARC airbag inflators in millions of vehicles that were manufactured since 2000, but there is not yet a full list of the affected vehicles because Ford and other auto-makers have only issued limited recalls. An estimated 33 million vehicles are still on the road today with ARC airbag inflators.
Ford Vehicles Sold in Canada With ARC Airbag Inflators
According to Transport Canada, the list of Ford vehicles with a driver airbag inflator manufactured by ARC Automotive includes:
- 2004-2011 Ford Crown Victoria
- 2004-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis
- 2004-2011 Lincoln Town Car
Who Made These Airbags?
The airbag inflators were produced by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive between 2000 and January 2018, when ARC updated their manufacturing process.
Ford Recalls Mustang, F150 Vehicles for ARC Airbags
In August 2017, Ford recalled approximately 650 vehicles with ARC airbags, including the 2017 Ford Mustang and the 2017 Ford F-150, because the ARC airbag inflators could rupture and shoot out metal.
According to the recall notice:
“The inflator may rupture during a front passenger airbag deployment, resulting from a crash, which may result in metal fragments striking vehicle occupants and causing serious injury and death.”
Ford recalled the following vehicles:
- 2017 Ford F-150 (production dates: JUL 20, 2017 – AUG 01, 2017)
- 2017 Ford Mustang, 2-Door (production dates: JUL 20, 2017 – AUG 01, 2017)
This is not a complete list of Ford vehicles that were sold with airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive.
Why Do ARC Airbags Rupture and Explode?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating the safety of ARC airbag inflators since 2015. After an 8-year investigation, the NHTSA concluded that the inflators were defective.
According to the investigation report, ARC airbags can rupture and forcefully eject metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment, causing severe injuries or death to anyone inside the vehicle — even after minor crashes.
The problem is linked to the friction welding process, which can produce excess metal debris called “weld slag.” When the airbag deploys, this loose debris can plug up a hole in the inflator that is supposed to allow gas to escape and fill up the airbag. Instead, gas gets stuck and pressurizes the metal inflator canister, causing it to explode, according to the NHTSA investigation.
Ford Recalls Vehicles with Takata Airbags
Ford recalled certain Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators that can potentially rupture and explode when the airbag deploys, shooting out deadly metal shrapnel.
The highest-risk vehicles are certain 2006 Ford Rangers. Ford is warning customers to stop driving those vehicles and contact a dealer for immediate repairs because the airbags have a higher risk of rupturing in a crash.
Ford’s list of vehicles recalled for Takata airbags includes:
- Ford Edge 2007 – 2010
- Ford Fusion 2006 – 2012
- Ford GT 2005 – 2006
- Ford Mustang 2005 – 2014
- Ford Ranger 2004 – 2011
- Mercury Milan 2006 – 2011
Do I have a Ford Airbag Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ford airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or killed when a Ford airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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