Ford, Chrysler and Mazda expand scope of Takata airbag recalls
Fri, Dec 5 2014
For Chrysler Group, the campaign covers the inflators on 149,150 examples of the 2003-model-year Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups. The recall is limited to vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. The company will begin notifying affected customers on January 19.
According to Chrysler's announcement of the action, the passenger side inflators in these trucks "are of a type that is not used in any of the other vehicles affected by Chrysler Group's regional field action." The automaker says that it's not aware of any actual failures or accidents in these pickups and even claims there are no "observed failures in laboratory testing of its airbag modules." The company is continuing to study the problem, though.
Ford is taking a similar step by issuing a recall of inflators for 38,500 examples of the 2004-2005 Ranger and 2005-2006 Ford GT. The campaign only affects vehicles originally sold or ever registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Certain zip codes of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa are also covered.
There's already precedent for passenger-side airbags to be covered under the Takata inflator recall. When many automakers announced campaigns in June, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota all included that side in some of their repairs. Subaru subsequently did, as well.
In addition, Mazda is expanding the scope of its recall to add Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Saipan, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to the affected areas. The company estimates that it has a total of 86,773 vehicles in need of repair. Mazda is also teaming with Toyota to begin independent testing of the Takata inflators. Scroll down to read all of the automakers' announcements of these newly expanded recalls.
Statement: Air-Bag Inflators
December 3, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group is voluntarily replacing front passenger-side air-bag inflators in an estimated 149,150 older-model pickup trucks in seven U.S. states and five territories to address concerns about improper air-bag deployment.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries or accidents involving these inflators in the affected vehicles. Nor has Chrysler Group observed failures in laboratory testing of its air-bag modules.
However, these inflators have been linked to two failures in vehicles produced by other auto makers. In these incidents, which occurred in Puerto Rico and southern Florida, air-bag deployment was accompanied by component ruptures.
The pickups are among nine vehicle lines subject to an earlier regional field action to replace inflators in certain cars and trucks purchased or registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – areas where persistent, high absolute humidity and high temperatures may adversely affect component performance.
Chrysler continues to study this issue with great urgency. At this time, data analysis indicates the front passenger-side inflators in the affected pickups represent the only additional risk outside the above-mentioned areas. The inflators are of a type that is not used in any of the other vehicles affected by Chrysler Group's regional field action.
This new action undertaken by the Company covers model-year 2003 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups sold or ever registered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands.
Chrysler Group plans to notify affected customers beginning Jan. 19, 2015. Letters will advise when they may schedule service, which will be provided at no charge.
Customers who have questions in the interim may call 1-800-853-1403.
FORD EXPANDS REGIONAL TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL
At the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford is expanding its regional recall on Takata passenger-side airbag inflators. This recall includes approximately 38,500 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, an additional 13,000 vehicles approximately. This brings the total number of Ford vehicles being recalled for all issues related to Takata airbag inflators to approximately 98,000.
This expanded recall includes certain 2004-2005 Ford Rangers and 2005-2006 Ford GTs originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It adds certain zip codes with high absolute humidity conditions in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa, per NHTSA's request.
Affected vehicles include certain 2004-2005 Ford Ranger vehicles built at Edison Assembly Plant, Aug. 12, 2003 to March 1, 2004; certain 2004-2005 Ford Ranger vehicles built at Twin Cities Assembly Plant, May 21, 2003 to May 4, 2005; and certain 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles built at Wixom Assembly Plant, Feb. 11, 2005 to Jan. 30, 2006.
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator at no cost to the customer.
MAZDA STATEMENT ON TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL
Dec 4, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2014) – Mazda today announced the following steps in the Takata recall:
Mazda has decided to expand the area of the high-temperature, high-humidity region recall to include the Gulf Coast states.
The following states and territories comprise the High Absolute Humidity Region - Florida; Puerto Rico; Hawaii; Saipan; Guam; American Samoa; US Virgin Islands; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi; Texas.
As of December 4th, the estimated vehicles in all Mazda-Takata campaigns is 86,773. (Pending Polk Data confirmation).
We have discussed with Takata to move forward the supply timing for replacement airbags. For our customers, we continue to encourage customers to respond to our recall by making phone calls and re-sending notification letters.
With safety as our first priority, we are cooperating with Takata to work toward finding a solution to this problem as early as possible.
Toyota has proposed an independent, industry-wide joint testing initiative and Mazda has agreed to join the initiative.
This situation is fluid, and updates will be provided regularly.
About Mazda North American Operations
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and
B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
# # #
December 3, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group is voluntarily replacing front passenger-side air-bag inflators in an estimated 149,150 older-model pickup trucks in seven U.S. states and five territories to address concerns about improper air-bag deployment.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries or accidents involving these inflators in the affected vehicles. Nor has Chrysler Group observed failures in laboratory testing of its air-bag modules.
However, these inflators have been linked to two failures in vehicles produced by other auto makers. In these incidents, which occurred in Puerto Rico and southern Florida, air-bag deployment was accompanied by component ruptures.
The pickups are among nine vehicle lines subject to an earlier regional field action to replace inflators in certain cars and trucks purchased or registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – areas where persistent, high absolute humidity and high temperatures may adversely affect component performance.
Chrysler continues to study this issue with great urgency. At this time, data analysis indicates the front passenger-side inflators in the affected pickups represent the only additional risk outside the above-mentioned areas. The inflators are of a type that is not used in any of the other vehicles affected by Chrysler Group's regional field action.
This new action undertaken by the Company covers model-year 2003 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups sold or ever registered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands.
Chrysler Group plans to notify affected customers beginning Jan. 19, 2015. Letters will advise when they may schedule service, which will be provided at no charge.
Customers who have questions in the interim may call 1-800-853-1403.
FORD EXPANDS REGIONAL TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL
At the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford is expanding its regional recall on Takata passenger-side airbag inflators. This recall includes approximately 38,500 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, an additional 13,000 vehicles approximately. This brings the total number of Ford vehicles being recalled for all issues related to Takata airbag inflators to approximately 98,000.
This expanded recall includes certain 2004-2005 Ford Rangers and 2005-2006 Ford GTs originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It adds certain zip codes with high absolute humidity conditions in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa, per NHTSA's request.
Affected vehicles include certain 2004-2005 Ford Ranger vehicles built at Edison Assembly Plant, Aug. 12, 2003 to March 1, 2004; certain 2004-2005 Ford Ranger vehicles built at Twin Cities Assembly Plant, May 21, 2003 to May 4, 2005; and certain 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles built at Wixom Assembly Plant, Feb. 11, 2005 to Jan. 30, 2006.
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator at no cost to the customer.
MAZDA STATEMENT ON TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL
Dec 4, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2014) – Mazda today announced the following steps in the Takata recall:
Mazda has decided to expand the area of the high-temperature, high-humidity region recall to include the Gulf Coast states.
The following states and territories comprise the High Absolute Humidity Region - Florida; Puerto Rico; Hawaii; Saipan; Guam; American Samoa; US Virgin Islands; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi; Texas.
As of December 4th, the estimated vehicles in all Mazda-Takata campaigns is 86,773. (Pending Polk Data confirmation).
We have discussed with Takata to move forward the supply timing for replacement airbags. For our customers, we continue to encourage customers to respond to our recall by making phone calls and re-sending notification letters.
With safety as our first priority, we are cooperating with Takata to work toward finding a solution to this problem as early as possible.
Toyota has proposed an independent, industry-wide joint testing initiative and Mazda has agreed to join the initiative.
This situation is fluid, and updates will be provided regularly.
About Mazda North American Operations
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and
B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
# # #
By Chris Bruce
See also: Ford 'working very hard' on F-150 hybrid, Chris Harris checks out Ken Block's Hoonicorn '65 Mustang, Mustang retakes monthly pony car sales crown from Camaro.