Ford And Mazda Urge Owners Of More Than 450,000 Older Cars In The US To Stop Driving Them

Ford and Mazda have warned owners of more than 457,000 older model cars to stop driving them because they may be equipped with deployed airbags that could explode in a crash.

Regulators say the bug has affected several automakers and has been responsible for the deaths of dozens of people in the US over the past 10 years.

The warning applies to cars built between 2004 and 2015, including earlier recalled models: the Ford Ranger, GT, Mustang and Mazda CX-9 and RX-8, according to the US Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The vehicles have airbags manufactured by Takata, which can explode in a car accident due to exposure to heat and humidity and cause an explosion of metal shrapnel inside the car. These airbags are responsible for the deaths of at least 27 people in the US and at least 400 injuries, NHTSA says.

Some of the vehicles are over 20 years old, which can further increase the risk of airbags bursting in an accident because “the age of the airbags is one of the factors that increase the possibility of an explosion.

NHTSA urges all vehicle owners to check whether the Takata airbag recall applies to their car and adds that drivers should contact their dealership for free repairs “as soon as possible.” Ford says that around 765,000 cars worldwide are equipped with these airbags.

Both Ford and Mazda previously issued warnings to drivers not to drive certain 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series vehicles. Other manufacturers, such as BMW, Chrysler, Honda and Nissan, have issued similar warnings.

• Also See: Ford Refuses To Switch To Direct (Online) Sales Of Its Vehicles