Ford Recalling 143K Vehicles for Safety Issues, Including Takata Airbags

When bad new comes, it tends to come in bunches, and Ford is realizing this with a list of new recalls. In total, Ford has announced four recalls, two safety recalls and two safety-compliance recalls, that affect nine models.

The biggie of the bunch is a safety-compliance recall that affects 141,340 vehicles in total, including the 2015 to 2017 Ford F-150 Crew Cab, the 2017 F-250, and the 2017 F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab. In these models, Ford admits it may have use a rivet with an inadequate head thickness that may allow the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle to separate from its mounting bracket. The affected F-150s include those built in Dearborn and Kansas City between July 20, 2015 and June 16, 2017. Affected F-250 and F-350 models include those built at the Kansas City plant between Oct. 20, 2015 and June 16, 2017.

Next up is the recall of 935 2017 Ford F-150s and Mustangs. These models were manufactured with the infamous Takata exploding airbag. Affected F-150s were built between July 20, 2017 and Aug. 1, 2017 in the Kansas City plant. The impacted Mustangs were built in the Flat Rock plant between the same dates.

There also is a safety-compliance recall on 835 2017 Ford Focus models. Ford wants to inspect these models’ left rear seatback frame for inadequate weld penetration between the outboard pivot bracket and the pivot nut joint. If the issue exists, Ford will replace the frame. Affected models were built between June 7 and 12, 2017, at the Michigan Assembly plant.

Finally, 263 2017 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan models may have the incorrect steering gear heat-shield fastener. The affected vehicles include the 2017 Explorer built in Chicago between May 7 and 10, 2017, and the the 2017 Police Interceptor Utility, Police Interceptor Sedan and Taurus, built in Chicago between May 7 and 10, 2017.

Ford should notify affected owners, but you may want to check your vehicle’s production date and location to make sure yours isn’t affected. If you believe you own one of these vehicles, call your local Ford dealer to set up a service appointment to have the recall fixed.