According to Consumer Reports, Ford is recalling almost 65,000 Mavericks because of a defective side curtain airbag.
In the event of a rollover or side impact crash, those airbags may not comply with federal safety regulations that prevent passengers from being ejected.
NHTSA, the federal agency responsible for vehicle safety, discovered the issue during verification testing.
Certain vehicles are randomly tested by NHTSA to ensure they comply with applicable safety regulations.
On the basis of their own company crash tests, manufacturers certify that their vehicles meet applicable safety regulations.
Following the agency's findings, Ford stopped installing the faulty airbags on new vehicles and issued a "stop ship" order.
It is still building vehicles, but it needs parts to install updated airbags on new Mavericks built after July 9, 2022.
Ford may take a little longer to replace the airbag if you recently purchased a Maverick but have not yet received it. Your airbags will be replaced for free if you already own a Maverick.
According to Ford, you don't have to stop driving your vehicles in the meantime, since wearing a seatbelt is, at the end of the day, the most effective way to prevent being thrown from your vehicle.
On September 22, 2022, Ford will begin mailing notifications to owners of affected vehicles. The NHTSA website also allows you to check if your vehicle is affected by the recall by entering your VIN.