Takata Recall

[flyin-lowe]

The mechanic who recently worked on my 04 Ranger told me my truck has an airbag recall/stop drive. I googled and saw it, but was surprised I didn't see many threads on here. Just curious if any of you had the recall done? I haven't researched much but he said it was serious enough to Ford the dealer told him to park the truck and they would pay to tow it in, and bring a loaner until it was done. Seems like a lot of hassle for a 20 year old Ranger. Mine only has 115K miles on it and overall is in excellent condition. Any reason not to have them do the work? Anymore I rarely use dealership mechanics for anything, they can cause more damage than good.

 

[Jazzer]

I had the Takata passenger side air bag replaced in my ‘07 a few years ago, then the drivers side a couple of years later as it became available. Better than being bombarded with shards if I did have an accident.

 

[RangerNumber3]

Yikes! You are lucky they didn't just explode.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I had mine done... they sent a mobile tech right to my house.

First time they did the driver side.

When parts became available... they did the passenger side.

Then I got a letter that some passenger modules might have been installed incorrectly. They came back to the house a third time to verify the install.

Everything is free... takes minutes... and you would be a fool to not have the repairs made. You could likely call the dealer with your VIN and they will tell you if these recalls are still open.

 

[sgtsandman]

The recall is because there is a potential for shrapnel hitting the occupants if the air bags deployed. It has been talked about some on here, but not as a dedicated subject. More in passing than anything.

The air bag recall has been a thing for a lot of brands, not just Ford.

Like Uncle Gump, they issued a recall for the driver's side first and then the passenger side later on. The replacement is completely free, other than your time waiting for the work to be done. Being that I am the original owner, that may be why I got the notification. Second hand and subsequent owners have a chance of being lost in the system but the recall is tied to the VIN and not the owner. So, it would still apply and be free.

I had my local dealer do the work but they also had a decent reputation for doing decent work as well. I don't know what other options are available. Having a mobile service is a new one on me.

 

[19Walt93]

I worked at a dealer for 42 years- 35 as service manager. Please get the recall done, it's free, doesn't take long and could save your life. Our system ran and Oasis to check for recalls and warranty info ever time a work order was created and I suspect most all dealers do the same so that would have been caught years ago at a dealer. That's one of the big disadvantages of using independent shops.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I just bought the truck last fall so the shop doesn’t come into play. Maybe Im in the minority but I have more bad experiences with work done by a dealership that private or self work. Just last week I had to change the oil on my wife’s Durango. Dealership has been doing it as I had 4 free changes. It took a breaker bar to get the drain plug loose.

 

[sgtsandman]

I just bought the truck last fall so the shop doesn’t come into play. Maybe Im in the minority but I have more bad experiences with work done by a dealership that private or self work. Just last week I had to change the oil on my wife’s Durango. Dealership has been doing it as I had 4 free changes. It took a breaker bar to get the drain plug loose.

Every place has a bad dealership shop. I ran into that when I had warranty work done at a Honda dealership here. The sales department was ok, for a sales department. Parts was great. The service department is going to kill someone some day.

 

[19Walt93]

If techs are paid flat rate doing it fast becomes the most important factor, workmanship and quality fall behind. Flat rate rewards the techs who do repetitive stuff- services, brakes, etc, and punishes the techs who can actually diagnose and fix vehicles. The dealer group that now owns my old dealership switched everyone to flat rate unfortunately.

 

[Roert42]

The recall is because the parts inside the airbag breakdown over time and it turns into a grenade.

If it’s not been done. Do it.

Not much to argue about really, and the people here like to argue.


When the issue was first discovered with the Takata airbags 20 years ago, most companies didn’t have a different OEM to buy them from so they kept using the defective airbags. They knew there was a window where they were safe to use before they started to become an issue.
I’ve heard of instances where a defective airbags was replaced with a new airbag that was know to become defective in the future, but no other option. So it was twice under the recall.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I stopped in the local Ford dealer today and gave him the VIN number. He said according to what he was reading I am supposed to bring it in and they run some type of test on the passenger side airbag inflator (I think thats what he said) He said if it passes the test that is all that is needed. Didn't seem to match up with what I was reading when I Googled the recall. I may read some more but I don't remember seeing anything like that. He didn't mention the driver side airbag at all. Unless the previous owner had some of the work done. I might ask about that before I take it in next week.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'd bet some of the work was already done.

This inspection he wants to do takes minutes. Fella did it in my driveway and was here fir 10 minutes.

 

[sgtsandman]

I stopped in the local Ford dealer today and gave him the VIN number. He said according to what he was reading I am supposed to bring it in and they run some type of test on the passenger side airbag inflator (I think thats what he said) He said if it passes the test that is all that is needed. Didn't seem to match up with what I was reading when I Googled the recall. I may read some more but I don't remember seeing anything like that. He didn't mention the driver side airbag at all. Unless the previous owner had some of the work done. I might ask about that before I take it in next week.

I don't remember them doing a test on either side but it could depend on the year in question as well.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I don't remember them doing a test on either side but it could depend on the year in question as well.

I got a third letter....

The last was simply an inspection to ensure it was wired correctly. At least that what I remember.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Only weird thing is they said it would take about half a day. They told me to drop or mod the night before or early the day of the appointment and pick it up in the afternoon…