Ford recalls nearly 1 million vehicles over exploding Takata air bags

Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel. That includes 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history.

The recall is for the following vehicles:

• 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles built at Oakville Assembly Plant, Nov. 28, 2008 to July 12, 2010
• 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger built at Twin Cities, Aug. 14, 2008 to June 21, 2014
• 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion, the 2010 to 2012 Lincoln MKZ and the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, July 3, 2008 to July 29, 2012
• 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, June 8, 2009 to Dec. 16, 2011

At least 23 people have been killed worldwide by the inflators.

Ford says it doesn't know of any injuries in vehicles included in this recall. Dealers will replace the inflators. Ford owners with questions about the Takata airbag recall can look up their vehicles and get other information at the automaker's recall site.

Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate air bags. But it can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion.

Roughly 37 million vehicles are equipped with approximately 50 million potentially defective Takata air bags. The ongoing recall is occurring in stages through 2020, with the vehicles most likely to be at the most risk of experiencing an explosive air bag failure being recalled first.

Separately, Ford said it is issuing a recall on fewer than 100 of its 2019 EcoSport vehicles for "insufficient front seat back weld." The issue means some seat backs may not meet seat-back strength requirements, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. 

That recall covers about 87 EcoSport vehicles, including 63 in the U.S. and 13 in Canada.