What you need to know about the Takata airbag recall.

Takata determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety may arise in some non-desiccated ammonium nitrate airbag inflators due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling. Testing and analyses conducted by Takata and by independent entities have found that there are wide differences in the time periods in which propellant degradation takes place. The propellant degradation varies in different climate zones, in different vehicle makes and models and in different airbag inflator and propellant configurations. If the propellant in the airbag inflator has degraded, a rupture in the inflator may occur should the airbag inflate due to a crash. A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

It is important to note that for vehicles that are part of the Takata recalls, the issue is the airbag inflator, which is a component of the airbag assembly, and not the actual airbag. The supplier for the airbag and airbag inflator can be different for the same vehicle; it is also possible to have different suppliers for the driver and passenger-side airbag inflators in your vehicle.

Click here on safety recalls to visit our simple online tool to determine if your Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle is included in any recall. Simply enter your vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) to see any open safety, compliance or emissions recalls, including those that relate to Takata, as well as customer satisfaction programs. You can find your vehicle VIN on a metal plate located on the lower portion of the instrument panel, just inside the windshield on the driver’s side. It is most easily viewed from outside the vehicle. Please refer to your owner’s manual for the specific location in your vehicle.

Vehicles equipped with airbags, including airbags that are under recall, save lives and reduce injuries. The majority of Takata airbags will perform as expected. The Takata safety recall presents a risk to safety that, while low, is still important to acknowledge. In the case of Takata, the data Ford has reviewed indicates the likelihood of an airbag inflator rupture is very low and most airbag inflators will perform properly, protecting customers in the event of a crash.

Both NHTSA and Takata have indicated that the majority of highest-risk vehicles include older vehicles in areas with the most exposure to a combination of high humidity and high temperature cycling. In the case of certain 2006 Ford Rangers, Ford is advising customers to stop driving those vehicles and contact a dealer for immediate repairs because data indicates a higher risk of rupturing in the event of a crash than other vehicles included in the recalls. There are a number of different recalls related to Takata airbag inflators; in every case, Ford is working closely with NHTSA to prioritize vehicle repairs, and is working closely with the agency to ensure our customers are informed on the status of repair availability for their vehicles.

If your vehicle is affected, you would have received a letter from Ford notifying you of the recall. You can also enter your vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) here to see any open recalls. If your vehicle is affected, please schedule an appointment with your dealer to have your vehicle serviced for the recall.

The repair procedure could differ depending on the vehicle. If your vehicle is affected, the recall notice letter will describe the repair and provide a guideline of how long it will take. When you receive the letter, please contact your dealer to schedule a service appointment. At that time, your dealer will be able to tell you approximately how long the recall repair will take.

Parts are now available for all affected vehicle lines, and most repairs take less than one-half day to complete. If alternative transportation is required, dealers are authorized to provide a loaner vehicle at no charge (except fuel and insurance). Dealers are also authorized to provide free ride sharing or shuttle transportation (if offered in your location).

No. NHTSA estimates that frontal airbags saved 2,400 lives in 2014 alone. According to NHTSA, it is far more likely that your airbag will perform properly and protect you than rupture and cause harm should you be involved in a crash. An airbag that is purposely disabled has a 100 percent chance of failing to provide any protection in a crash.

We have parts available for all affected vehicle lines at this time. Please click here on safety recalls to visit our simple online tool to determine if your Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle is included in any recall.

Ford Motor Company identified approximately 36,000 2006 model-year Ranger vehicles in North America with airbag inflators that pose higher risk of rupturing in the event of a crash. We take this matter very seriously and are advising owners of these specific 2006 Ford Rangers to stop driving their vehicles so that dealers can make repairs immediately. Parts are available now, and dealers are prepared to get vehicles directly from customers, make permanent repairs that will resolve the safety risk and provide a free interim loaner vehicle, if necessary.

Ford has a VIN look-up tool at Ford.com that customers can use to determine if their vehicle is one of those involved in this action. It can be found here.

Ford advised some customers who own certain vehicles with Takata passenger inflators of ways to mitigate the safety risk, and not sitting in the passenger seat is one way to do so.

We do not expect Takata’s bankruptcy to affect Ford’s ability to repair vehicles.

No.

Ford Motor Company products currently in development will not be equipped with Takata airbag inflators that use ammonium nitrate.

It depends on your vehicle. If your vehicle received an interim repair, you will receive another notice from Ford when the permanent repair is available. It is important that you have the permanent repair completed when you are notified that parts are available.

There are several possibilities. First, you may have received an interim repair for the recall. If that is the case, you will receive another notice when the permanent repair is available. It is important to carefully read all safety recall notifications that you receive and contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center if you have questions.

In other cases, your vehicle could be included in different recalls involving Takata airbag inflators, one for the driver-side airbag inflator and another for the passenger-side airbag inflator. Please check the letter you receive to determine which recall pertains to your vehicle.

You can also click here on safety recalls to visit our simple online tool to determine if your Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle is included in any recall. Simply enter your vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) to see any open safety, compliance or emissions recalls, including those that relate to Takata, as well as customer satisfaction programs. You can find your VIN on a metal plate located on the lower portion of the instrument panel, just inside the windshield on the driver’s side. It is most easily viewed from outside the vehicle. Please refer to your owner’s manual for the specific location in your vehicle.

If you have additional questions, you can contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center in the U.S. at 866.436.7332 and in Canada at 800.565.3673.

For additional information, please visit NHTSA’s website dedicated to the Takata airbag inflator recall issue. NHTSA also offers a VIN look-up tool to determine if any vehicle is under recall. It can be found here.

Some dealers provide the convenience of mobile repairs at your home or place of employment and/or vehicle pick-up and return — just ask when you call. You may also be able to get loaner vehicle to use while your vehicle is being repaired.

Please complete the short survey at FordAirbagSurvey.com to provide Ford with updated information on the vehicle for which you are receiving notices.