Ford Recalls Ranger Airbag Recall for Bad Repairs Again

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 230,000 2004-2006 model year Ranger pickups that received replacement front-passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly, which was also the problem that forced the previous recall and now its latest expansion.

NHTSA made the latest recall public this morning. An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. (Ford Recalls Ranger Airbag Recall for Unsafe Repair)

Although Ford service instructions include diagrams and instructions for proper airbag inflator installation, technicians who mis-installed the inflator told Ford they did not review the instructions prior to installation. Ford did not name the “select dealerships (responsible) and a certain third-party mobile repair team,” which discovered botched repair(s) in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 22 May 2023. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have their previously replaced passenger frontal airbag inflator inspected for proper installation, and, if necessary, reinstalled correctly.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 23V-125. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recalls 23V125 and NHTSA 23V306.