Drivers of 457,000 Ford, Mazda models warned - "Do not drive"

On Tuesday, Ford and Mazda issued warnings to owners of certain vehicles, advising them not to drive due to the presence of potentially hazardous airbags that still need to be replaced.

Approximately 457,300 vehicles in the U.S. are affected by the "do not drive" orders, which involve Takata airbag inflators that require urgent repairs from previous recalls, according to the manufacturers.

Of the vehicles impacted, about 83,000 are Mazdas, while 374,300 are from Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands.

Mazda North American Operations issued a statement highlighting that the "DO NOT DRIVE" notice affects customers who haven’t completed recalls numbered 1317F, 1417G, 1817L, 1917L, 2118A, and 2618F. The models affected include 2004-2006 B-series, 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6, and 2004-2008 RX8 vehicles, among others. Passenger airbag inflators in models like the 2007-2012 CX-7 and 2007-2015 CX-9 are also involved.

Ford identified several vehicles as unsafe, including 2004-2006 Ford Rangers, 2005-2014 Ford Mustangs, 2005-2006 Ford GTs, 2006-2012 Ford Fusions, and 2007-2010 Ford Edges, urging drivers to avoid using them until the recalled airbags are replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has noted that over the years, around 67 million Takata airbags have been recalled in the U.S. due to defects that have caused 27 deaths and over 400 injuries. The agency emphasized that some of the vehicles now under the latest warning are more than 20 years old, heightening the risk of airbag failure in a crash.

Both Ford and Mazda confirmed that replacement parts are now available and encouraged owners to get repairs done free of charge at dealerships, offering mobile service, towing, and loaner vehicles if needed. Mazda estimated the replacement process would take about an hour.

The automakers are reaching out to affected customers through multiple communication channels on an ongoing basis.

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