The unprecedented volume and scope of the industrywide Takata airbag inflator recalls have created unique replacement parts challenges for ALL vehicle manufacturers and global parts suppliers, so I hope this just isn’t a Ford story, but more of an industry story.
At NHTSA’s request, Ford issued safety recalls for vehicles with certain Takata inflators even though replacement inflators with a different propellant would not be available for months or even years; in the meantime, new inflators are being redesigned and manufactured.
Ford is currently engaged in the complex and lengthy process of developing replacement non-ammonium nitrate-based airbag inflators from alternative suppliers. Airbag inflators are highly engineered and unique to each model and model year. In addition to the lengthy design and revalidation process, the scarcity of global production capacity from inflator suppliers is contributing to a delay in global replacement parts availability.
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Ford and our dealers are committed to providing excellent customer service and may be able to provide loaner vehicles in certain circumstances. To determine if you qualify, please contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center in the U.S. at 866.436.7332 and in Canada at 800.565.3673.
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, which is consistent with advice that NHTSA and other manufacturers have provided.