Takata airbags installed in thousands of Ford vehicles are believed to malfunction due to chemical corruption in the airbag inflator. The airbags are housed inside of a metal cannister and deployed by a chemical reaction which inflates the life saving device. The chemical instability of the airbags can create a buildup of pressurized gasses inside the metal inflator housing which can send shards of metal flying into drivers and occupants.
Ford vehicles subject to the Takata airbag recall include:
Despite subpoenas issued by a New York grand jury and the Senate Commerce Committee the Japanese based manufacturer is refusing to cooperate with the NHTSA’s call for a nationwide recall of its Beta model airbags. The interim administrator of the NHTSA said that his agency “will use the full extent of its statutory powers to ensure vehicles that use the same or similar air bag inflator are recalled.” Ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee have called for a full fledged criminal investigation of Takata after articles published by Reuters and the New York Times indicated that Takata may have known as far back as 2001 there could be issues with its airbags deploying properly and even went as far as to destroy data collected in secret tests conducted in 2004 showing the possibility of malfunction.
Ford model vehicles equipped with Takata Beta model airbags include the 2004 Ranger, 2005-2006 GT, and 2005-2007 Mustang. Ford has said that it is cooperating with NHTSA efforts to recall the vehicles and is asking owners to check their VIN on the NHTSA website.
What can I do if I’ve been hurt by a Takata airbag in my Ford?
We strongly urge you to contact the Cochran Firm’s Washington, D.C. office at your earliest convenience if you or your loved ones have been hurt by a Takata airbag while operating a Ford vehicle. The dedicated team of personal injury and product liability attorneys are actively investigating claims arising from faulty Takata airbags. You may eligible for compensation so please call our office at 202-682-5800 or fill out a contact form for a free case review.
