The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·18V022000·Announced 2018-01-11

Ford Recalls 2006 Rangers Due to Air Bag Inflator Explosion Risk

Ford is recalling 33,310 model year 2006 Ranger trucks because the passenger-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment, potentially causing serious injury or death.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (air bag inflator) where the source text explicitly states the hazard could result in 'serious injury or death,' meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling 33,310 model year 2006 Ford Ranger trucks. The recall was initially announced on January 11, 2018, for 2,700 vehicles, and expanded on February 9, 2018, to include the full population of affected trucks. The defect involves the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator, which may experience excessive internal pressure upon deployment, causing the inflator to explode.

In the event of a crash that necessitates the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the exploding inflator could release sharp metal fragments that strike vehicle occupants. This hazard poses a risk of serious injury or death. Ford has instructed owners not to drive these vehicles until they have been repaired.

Ford will notify owners to stop driving their vehicles. Dealers will replace the passenger-side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator at no charge to the owner. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
FORD RANGER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
33,310

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • RANGER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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