Ford and Mazda Hope to Be Removed From Latest Airbag Recall
By NEAL E. BOUDETTEJULY 21, 2017
Ford Motor and Mazda plan to ask federal safety regulators to exclude their vehicles from the latest expansion of the
sweeping recall of airbag inflaters made by Takata, a Japanese supplier that sought bankruptcy protection in June.
Earlier this month, Takata added 2.7 million vehicles to a recall aimed at replacing defective airbags
that can explode too violently and have been linked to at least 17 deaths, including 12 in the United States.
“At this point, there is no data to suggest a recall is needed.”
Takata inflaters use ammonium nitrate to create a controlled explosion that rapidly inflates airbags in the event of a collision.
But on Tuesday, Ford informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
that it intended to fight the recall, saying its inflaters contain a chemical compound that has proved effective in preventing violent ruptures.
Over the years, Takata has used a variety of chemical agents to keep the propellant dry, with some
combinations showing a greater propensity to fail than others, according to federal regulators.
