The Takata airbag recall crisis is getting no better and, according to recent news, is actually getting worse. Ford has recalled nearly 2M more vehicles and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently released a report of its investigation that shows some automakers are still using the defective airbag inflators in new vehicles. The Takata update upset the Senate and one particular victim.First, the Ford recall; the models affected are listed below:

• 2007-2010 Ford Edge

• 2006-2011 Ford Fusion

• 2005-2011 Ford Mustang

• 2007-2011 Ford Ranger

• 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX

• 2006-2011 Lincoln MKZ, Zephyr and Mercury Milan

You can also find out if your vehicle (any make/model) is on the recall list by visiting this site and entering your vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number).The Senate Committee report report is nothing short of chilling. According to the report, “Four auto-makers [Fiat Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Toyota and VW] are still selling – or have plans to sell new vehicles equipped with Takata Ammonium-Nitrate Inflators…that will all be recalled by the end of 2018.”One of the problems with the Ammonium-Nitrate filters used as replacements is that some of them are non-desiccated, meaning they lack a drying agent that would help prevent their catastrophic explosion. According to the report, “To date, the majority of replacement inflators that have been installed – approximately 4.6 million – are Takata ammonium-nitrate inflators. At least 2.1 million of these replacement inflators are non-desiccated – the very type of inflator that is now being recalled – and they will have to be replaced again in the future.”In fact, the report states that “… Takata replacement is only a temporary remedy, and all of these replacement inflators will also have to be recalled by December 31st, 2019 according to NHTSA’s Amend Consent Order.”While we should all be upset by this news, one victim and her family are particularly upset. Randi Johnston, 25, was in an accident in fall 2015 involving her 2003 Honda Civic EX. The airbag exploded, filling the cabin with shrapnel and seriously injuring Ms. Johnston’s trachea and vocal cords.Ms. Johnston and her father Fred Johnston, spoke to Fox13Now in Salt Lake City.Ms. Johnston whispered her statement. “[My doctor] said literally 45 percent of my vocal cord just completely is missing, and there is nothing that can be done for me to get my voice back so that was kind of crushing to hear for the first time.” Initially, she was unable to communicate at all other than by writing and having someone read what she’d written.The recently released Senate Committee report has left both Ms. Johnston and her father disgusted with the results.Fred Johnston said, “The expansion of the recall: that's a great thing. But it's unconscionable that they are putting these knowingly defective airbags into brand new cars. They say the more people know what's going on with these air bags, the better. There is a total of 70 to 90 million cars that will eventually be involved in the recall. The fact that they are still putting these airbags into new vehicles, and the ones that are being recalled, they are replacing the old airbags with just a new model of the same airbag, same propellant, same potential for injury: People need to know these things are dangerous.”Indeed.Source:

Utah woman who suffered severed vocal cords speaks as airbag recall extends to more vehicles