Ford Broncos Recalled Over Airbag Snafu

The trick with airbags is that they need to actually work in order to properly protect people when car accidents happen.

That is why Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 500 new Bronco sport utility vehicles. The company says some passenger-side airbags were wrongly folded, which could cause them to improperly deploy and make them less effective.

“During a passenger airbag deployment, an airbag vent could open prematurely, which could result in an improper deployment,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a recent notice. That “increas[es] the risk of an occupant injury during a crash,” the company added.

The recall covers new Ford Broncos that were built between mid-July and mid-August. Ford said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the airbag defect.

Ford told NHTSA it planned to begin notifying owners of recalled vehicles in mid-November.

The recall comes nearly one year after Ford agreed to replace potentially hazardous Takata airbags in some 3 million vehicles. That move ended a long-running standoff with federal regulators that spanned a decade following reports of exploding safety devices killing motorists around the world.

How the California Lemon Law Protects Car Owners

Ford, like other major auto manufacturers, regularly recalls vehicles for a wide range of defects that put people’s lives and safety at risk.

The company in August announced that it was recalling some 36,000 Lincoln Aviator sport utility vehicles because of a defect that Ford said could cause fires. The same month, Ford recalled some 775,000 Explorer SUVs over a steering defect that it said could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicles.

California car owners and lessors need to understand that they do not have to wait for a recall to get a defective or malfunctioning vehicle fixed.

The state’s lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also obligates manufacturers to buy back (or, in some cases, replace) vehicles that the companies are unwilling or unable to properly repair.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback requirement kicks in. That is one reason why it is important to consult a seasoned lemon law attorney.

Speak with an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a car owner or lessor who is locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, you do not need to go it alone. An Orange County lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back. 

Our lawyers are pleased to be able to assist clients in defective vehicle cases throughout California. We focus solely on these cases and have a strong track record of successful results for the people we represent.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.  Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an Orange County lemon law attorney today.