Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ford air bag recall goes national

Tom Krisher Associated Press

DETROIT – Ford Motor Co. has agreed to government demands to expand a driver’s side air bag inflator recall to the entire U.S.

The move announced Thursday adds 447,000 Ford vehicles to the list of those recalled because of driver’s inflators made by Japan’s Takata Corp. The inflators can explode with too much force, spewing shrapnel into drivers and passengers.

Ford’s action puts pressure on BMW and Chrysler, the only two automakers that haven’t agreed to national recalls. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made the demand of five automakers, saying the inflators are dangerous. Honda and Mazda already took their recalls national.

Previously, the recalls were limited to high-humidity states mainly along the Gulf Coast.

The Ford national recall covers certain 2005 to 2008 Mustangs and 2005 and 2006 GT sports cars.

The company also announced it would recall the same cars in Canada, Mexico and a few other countries. Thursday’s announcement brings to just over 502,000 the number of Ford vehicles under recall for Takata driver’s side air bags.

The company said it knows of one accident and injury from the problems, in a 2007 Mustang in North Carolina. Dealers will replace the inflators at no cost to customers.