Consumers who own a Ford vehicle may want to double-check to make sure that it’s safe to take out on the road. The company announced this week that it is recalling approximately 3 million vehicles that are equipped with Takata airbags.
These airbags have already been linked to at least 18 deaths in the U.S. due to an issue that causes the propellant in the airbags’ inflators to degrade over time. In some cases, that degradation can cause the airbags to explode and send tiny bits of metal into the passenger cabin.
The recall affects certain vehicles in the 2006 to 2012 model years, including the Ford Fusion, Ranger, and Edge; Lincoln/MKZ/Zephyr and MKX; and Mercury Milan. All told, the company said it will spend $610 million to repair affected vehicles.
Ford isn’t the only automaker dealing with this kind of problem. Volkswagen also announced a recall of 2012-2014 Beetles and Beetle Convertibles this week over similar issues.
GM recalls over 600,000 vehicles for unsafely installed seatbelts
While Ford and Volkswagen grappled with unsafe airbags, GM had its hands full this week with a seatbelt issue affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles.
It was discovered that some of the seat belt brackets in affected vehicles were not properly attached to the seat frames. Without this connection, a passenger could potentially become seriously injured in a crash because they would not be restrained properly.
GM said it would notify owners who have an affected vehicle and work with dealers to correct the issue free of charge.
Trailers recalled due to fire hazards
Two companies issued recalls this week for issues connected to fire hazards.
Keystone announced a recall for nearly 350 of its Cougar recreational trailers after it was discovered that the Solar Prep wiring in the products may not be connected correctly to the breaker. This could cause an electrical short, which increases the risk of a fire.
At the same time, Forest River recalled 15 of its 2021 model year Puma travel trailers because the outdoor cooktop was able to be stowed while the propane hose was attached and the burner was still on. Putting away a lit burner would, of course, cause a fire, so the company is recalling the affected models so that a bracket can be attached to prevent improper stowing.
Essar recalls potentially toxic rubbing alcohol
While it’s not a particularly large recall, Essar’s callback of a single lot of its rubbing alcohol product should serve as a warning about the dangers of certain chemicals in consumer products.
The company said a single lot of its Soho Fresh 70% Rubbing Alcohol was contaminated with methanol. Exposure to this chemical can be very dangerous and cause a range of symptoms, including blindness, seizures, coma, and permanent damage to the nervous system. In some cases, too much exposure can even cause death.
The company advised customers who bought an affected product to stop using it immediately and either discard it or return it to the place of purchase.