Ford Recalls 953K Vehicles Over Exploding Airbags

MICHIGAN — Ford is recalling nearly 1 million vehicles worldwide because the passenger airbag inflators can explode and throw shrapnel.

Some 953,000 vehicles were recalled, including 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. It’s part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press.

Included are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang, WDIV reported.

At least 23 people have been killed worldwide by the inflators, reports say.

The airbags were made by Takata, according to reports. Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate air bags, WDIV reported, but it can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion.

Image via Shutterstock