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Ford Expands F-150 Airbag Recall

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 7, 2011

Ford Motor Company expanded a recall involving their F-150 trucks recently, following recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ford’s F-150 pickup truck has been the best-selling vehicle in North America for the last 34 years, but recent airbag problems have prompted the automaker to expand the original recall. Initially, Ford recalled 144,000 F-150s, but the recall now affects more than 1.32 million trucks manufactured between 2004 and 2006 for problems involving accidental airbag deployment.

Ford and the NHTSA say the problem stems from a manufacturing mistake that can cause airbag wiring in the steering wheel to short-circuit, causing the airbag to deploy. Ford has told the NHTSA and F-150 owners that the airbag warning light usually is on for “an extended period of time” before the driver’s side airbag deploys. Ford has conducted extensive testing, and the company claims that drivers have been able to maintain control of their vehicles during airbag deployment.

Ford warns owners to take their trucks to the nearest Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer as soon as possible after the airbag light turns on to fix the problem. F-150 owners affected by the recall should receive recall notices sometime in May and can bring their truck to a dealer to fix the problem. Ford says the problem can be fixed in less than half a day and at no cost to owners. Ford told NHTSA officials that it doesn’t know of any accidents or injuries resulting from accidental airbag deployments, but the company warns F-150 owners not to wait to bring their truck in if their airbag light illuminates.

“We are pleased that Ford shares our commitment to safety and is taking action to protect consumers by expanding its safety recall,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland in a statement.

Last February, the NHTSA pressured Ford to recall 144,000 F-150 trucks. Ford complied with the request, but told officials “the condition does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” With the latest recall announcement, Ford reiterated that the airbag wiring problem is not an “unreasonable risk,” but acquiesced to the NHTSA request to expand the recall “to reassure customers of Ford’s commitment to safety and to eliminate any possible customer confusion.”

If you have ever been in a vehicle when the airbag deploys, you know that they deploy with frightening speed and force. If an airbag deploys unexpectedly while moving, the results could be very dangerous for the driver, his or her passengers and anyone else in the vicinity. Have you been injured in an accident caused by a deployed airbag in a F-150? If so, you may be entitled to damages. Call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule your free consultation.

James O. Cunningham

James O. CunninghamSince 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.

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