Federal safety regulators issued an urgent warning to consumers to check for recalls immediately after another death involving a Takata airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on November 17 that is was issuing the warning after one person was killed after a crash in a 2006 Ford Ranger where the Takata driver’s side air bag inflator ruptured.
The vehicle was already under a "do not drive" warning, the agency said.
NHTSA said it was aware of other suspected inflator ruptures in vehicles from other automakers potentially due to exploding Takata air bags.
The administration said it was urging all vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall.
If it does, NHTSA said owners need to contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer.
“We need everyone to check right now for open Takata recalls – and if you have one, to schedule an appointment at your dealership immediately for a repair,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said in a statement.
“Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled air bag replaced puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death," Carlson said. "Don’t let an open recall cost you or your passengers your lives.”
Ford Has a Large Recall
In the latest incident, Ford (F) said it sent out more than 100 notices, according to Automotive News, including multiple text messages, prior to the tragic accident, which killed the 23-year-old male driver of the Ford Ranger in a crash near Pensacola, Fla.
The automaker also had a canvasser visit the home to schedule a recall repair for the vehicle.
NHTSA confirmed 22 people in the U.S. have been killed by defective Takata airbag inflators, with 400 people alleging injuries.
Even minor crashes can result in exploding airbags that can kill or produce life-altering injuries, the agency said. Older model-year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, as the age of the airbag is one of the contributing factors.
In 2013, a series of deaths and injuries associated with defective Takata airbag inflators made in their Mexico plant led the Japanese automotive parts company to initially recall 3.6 million cars equipped with such airbags
Takata used an ammonium nitrate chemical to create a small explosion that fills the airbag quickly during a crash. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and was acquired by Key Safety Systems.
In response to additional deaths, NHTSA ordered an ongoing, US-wide recall of more than 42 million cars, the largest automotive recall in U.S. history.
Earlier this month, FCA US, a subsidiary of Stellantis (STLA) and NHTSA issued a "Do Not Drive" warning for about 276,000 vehicles following the deaths of two people in crashes where the Takata driver’s-side airbags exploded.
Drivers Often Ignore Recalls
The defective airbags are suspected in the death of a third person.
NHTSA said it was aware of several other suspected inflator ruptures in vehicles from other automakers potentially due to exploding Takata airbags.
Last year, Ford said it was recalling more than 153,000 older trucks that may have had obsolete Takata airbag modules installed during collision and theft repairs.
People ages 18-34 are the least compliant consumer age group when it comes to responding to recalls, according to a 2017 survey by recall consultancy Stericycle Expert Solutions
The company found that millennials are most likely to ignore recall notices and throw them in the trash compared with other consumer age groups, especially baby boomers.
And a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute that same year found that nearly 40% of consumers avoid vehicle safety recalls because they fear their dealership will recommend additional repairs.
Consumers were concerned about difficulty giving up vehicles for repairs and lengthy waits, the study found,
You can check on the NHTSA site to find out about open recalls. You will need your VIN number.
