Ford F-150 to Be Recalled for Airbag Issues

At the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), American manufacturer Ford readies to recall 144,000 F-150 trucks due to an issue in which the driver’s airbag may deploy without warning. The recall includes 135,000 trucks in the United States and 9,000 in Canada.

The story goes back in January, when the NHTSA urged Ford to recall about 1.3 million 2004-06 F-150 pickup trucks, after several customers reported being injured when the airbag deployed inadvertently. The decision to send a formal letter for a recall was taken after Ford refused to voluntarily do so.

Ford, on the other hand, argued that the number of incidents was low, that the injuries were minor and that "consumers received adequate warning" because the air bag warning light was on and they should have gotten the vehicle serviced.

In its investigation, NHTSA reviewed complaints that said 238 driver air bags on 2004-06 F-150 vehicles inadvertently deployed without warning causing 77 injuries. The injuries included chipped and broken teeth, cuts to the arm, hand and face, lacerations and minor burns. Two owners reported a loss of consciousness as a result of air bag deployment.

Ford says that it has had 703 known cases of the air bag warning light being illuminated, and in 106 cases a chafed wire was located and determined to be the cause.

Typically, automakers agree to a recall after NHTSA completes an engineering analysis and makes a request. “(Automakers) will negotiate with the agency — they may agree to a service campaign or an extended warranty or a more limited recall," said Allan Kam, a former NTHSA attorney. "When NHTSA goes eyeball to eyeball with the industry, the industry usually blinks because of the risk of adverse publicity."

NHTSA said it is reviewing Ford's limited recall and will determine whether it is sufficient.