Ford leads the pack in recalls issued this year. It’s a title no automaker wants, but Ford will have to live with it while it straightens out quality control in its vast lineup. This time around, the mid-sized Ford Ranger pickup truck is the victim, with more than 100,000 trucks recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its curtain airbags.
Ford Issues Ranger Recall
The recall affects the most recent 2024-2026 Rangers, which feature faulty curtain airbags. They’re an important part of crash technology, cushioning impacts coming from the vehicle’s high side, windows, and door pillars, as well as protecting passengers from ejection during an accident.
Ford’s filings with the NHTSA indicate the issue was discovered during a safety audit of the Ranger conducted by the administration. At the time, the Ford Ranger only marginally passed its side impact crash test, and Ford discovered a small slit had been torn in the curtain airbag by a foreign object during the crash. It was just large enough, at 15/32 of an inch, to deflate the airbag. Ford believes an inner reinforcement flange for the airbags could cause the laceration. A total of 100,900 trucks have been recalled from the above model years, and Ford will begin implementing the fix, a new protective shield for the airbags, sometime in December.
Ford’s Recall Issues Continue
The Ranger is just the latest in a long line of Ford recalls. This month alone, around 1.3 million Ford vehicles were recalled. The huge number included 355,000 trucks, in addition to a further 500,000 SUVs. The recalls are so extensive, if you own a Ford built in the last decade, it’s likely subject to a recall or has been at some point in the last year.
That’s because Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, is working to improve the brand’s build quality. Evidently, it’s a necessary step, but the decision will harm Ford’s reputation in the short term. It’s hard to leave the lot with the next most expensive asset most Americans own, next to their homes, and know it’ll need a trip to the dealer due to a recall. For now, all anyone can do is sit and wait.
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