The 2004–2006 Ranger has just become a prime example of why it’s always important to read the instructions carefully, as 98,550 examples are being re-recalled by Ford due to airbags potentially being incorrectly installed.
The pickup trucks were recalled to have their Takata airbags replaced, and Ford turned not only to its own dealers, but to third party mechanics to help complete these important repairs.
Unfortunately, on November 17, 2022, the automaker launched an investigation into reports that some front airbags had been improperly installed in the vehicles. A third party mobile repair team was the first to discover an incorrectly replaced part, noting that although a new airbag had been put in the vehicle, it had been installed in the incorrect orientation.
Read: NHTSA Questions Automakers In Light Of Potentially Lethal Airbags
Ford searched inspection audits for the airbags and discovered more examples of this happening elsewhere. They reached out to the technicians listed as having made the repairs that turned out to be incorrect, who told Ford that they had not read the instructions sent out before installing the airbags.
That’s a big issue, because when an airbag inflator is installed in the wrong orientation, it may not deploy correctly, which increases the risk of an injury in the event of an accident. That’s a slight improvement over an inflator that could explode, as the Takata part is likely to do, but is scarcely enough to put owners’ minds at ease.
Fortunately, Ford says it is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to this problem, but it has launched a new recall campaign to finally put an airbag that works into these Rangers. With that, the automaker has developed “enhanced dealer messaging and technical service notifications to re-emphasize the importance of following service instructions.”
Ford plans to start getting in touch with owners on March 27, and all fixes will be installed free of charge.
