Ford Recalls F-150, Super Duty Pickups To Fix Problem With Front Airbag

Over two decades ago, the world’s longest safety recall began and continues today.

Began Over 2 Decades Ag0

It began with a small number of Hondas, and it spiraled out of control following early reports of cars reporting the housings for driver’s front seat airbags failing.

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They failed in ways that left many drivers injured, maimed, and sometimes hurt fatally.

Indeed, there were clusters of vehicles in the early 2000s that left many hurt or injured, and later, there was a series of Ford compact trucks that were also left with injured users.

Ultimately, more than 20 automakers were impacted by the issue. Globally, more than 70 million airbag inflators were impacted by this issue. They were made by a now-defunct manufacturer named Takata

. At one time, Takata was the number two airbag manufacturer in the business. But time and circumstance waited for no company, and ultimately, more than 50 million vehicles globally felt the sting of the Takata recall program that ultimately left the manufacturer in bankruptcy, taken over by the likes of ZF and other manufacturers.

Why Is The Major Recall An Issue

So, why are we touching on the still ongoing Takata recall issue? Only recently, another automaker was touched by this issuer – BMW – and now it looks like Ford may be feeling a little more of this fervor breathing down its corporate neck.

Specifically, Ford has issued a recall for 18,000 pickups whose frontal airbags may not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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Specifically, the automaker recalls certain trucks whose front airbags may not deploy correctly. The automaker listed the following affected trucks: the 2023 F-150, 2023 Ford Super Duty F-250, 2023 Ford Super Duty F-350, 2023 Ford Super Duty F-450, 2023 Ford Super Duty F-550, and 2023 Ford Super Duty F-650 

In the problem summary, the automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the weld on the steering wheel clock spring may be insufficient, which may, in turn, cause a loss of electrical continuity to the driver's frontal airbag.

Because there isn’t enough continuity, there may not be enough current flowing for a good connection. The result will be an airbag that doesn’t fire in an emergency. To correct this problem, dealers will inspect and replace the clock spring as needed, free of charge.

Interim Owner Detail Letter Planned

The automaker plans to mail out an interim owner notification letter on Jan. 8, 2024, as the automaker doesn’t have the parts available yet. Ford plans to have the repair parts available sometime in the second quarter of 2024.

For more information, owners can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Owners can also contact the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Owners can check the agency’s website.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, and Special Interest Autos. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.