What you need to know about the Takata airbag recall.

Takata determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety may arise in some ammonium nitrate inflators due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling. Testing and analyses conducted by Takata and by independent entities have found that there are wide differences in the time periods in which propellant degradation takes place. The propellant degradation varies in different climate zones, in different vehicle makes and models, and in different inflator and propellant configurations. If the propellant in the airbag inflator has degraded, a rupture in the inflator may occur if the airbag is deployed due to a crash. A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. 

It is important to note that for vehicles that are part of the Takata recalls, the issue is the airbag inflator and not the actual airbag. The supplier for the airbag and airbag inflator can be different for the same vehicle; it’s also possible to have different suppliers for the driver and passenger-side airbag inflators in your vehicle.

Click here on safety recalls to visit our simple online tool to determine if your Lincoln or Mercury vehicle is included in any recall. Simply enter your vehicle’s 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see any open safety, compliance or emissions recalls, including those that relate to Takata, as well as customer satisfaction programs. You can find your VIN on a metal plate located on the lower portion of the instrument panel, just inside the windshield on the driver side. It is most easily viewed from outside the vehicle. Please refer to your owner’s guide for the specific location in your vehicle.

Vehicles equipped with airbags, including airbags that are under recall, save lives and reduce injuries. The majority of Takata airbags will perform as expected. The Takata safety recall presents a risk to safety that, while low, is still important to acknowledge. In the case of Takata, the data Lincoln has reviewed indicates the likelihood of an airbag inflator rupture is very low and most airbag inflators will perform properly, protecting customers in the event of a crash.

Both The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Takata have indicated that the highest risk vehicles include older models in areas with the most exposure to a combination of both high humidity and high temperature cycling. There are a number of different recalls related to Takata airbag inflators; in every case, Lincoln is working closely with NHTSA to prioritize vehicle repairs, and is working closely with the agency to ensure our customers are informed on the status of repair availability of their vehicles.

If your vehicle is affected, you would have received a letter from Lincoln notifying you of the recall. You can also enter your vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) here to see any open recalls. If your vehicle is affected, please schedule an appointment with your dealer to have your vehicle serviced for the recall.

The repair procedure could differ depending on the vehicle. If your vehicle is affected, the recall notice letter will describe the repair and provide a guideline of how long it will take. When you receive the letter, please contact your dealer to schedule a service appointment. At that time, your dealer will be able to tell you approximately how long the recall repair will take.

If alternative transportation is required, dealers are authorized to provide a loaner vehicle at no charge (except fuel and insurance). Dealers are also authorized to provide free ride sharing or shuttle transportation (if offered in your location).

No. NHTSA estimates that frontal airbags saved 2,400 lives in 2014 alone. According to NHTSA, it is far more likely that, if you are involved in a crash, your airbag will perform properly and protect you than it will rupture and cause harm. An airbag that is purposely disabled will fail to provide any protection in a crash.

Parts are now available for most of our affected vehicles. Please contact your local Lincoln dealership to confirm part inventory and to schedule a FREE airbag recall repair appointment.  You can also click here to use our online recall identification tool to confirm if your vehicle is affected by one of our airbag recalls and to locate a dealership near you.

Lincoln advised some customers who own certain vehicles with Takata passenger inflators of ways to mitigate the safety risk, and not sitting in the passenger seat is one way to do so.

No.

Lincoln Motor Company products currently in development will not be equipped with Takata airbag inflators that use ammonium nitrate.

If you have additional questions, you can contact our Customer Relationship Center in the U.S. at 866.436.7332 and in Canada at 800.565.3673.

For additional information, please visit NHTSA’s website dedicated to the Takata airbag inflator recall issue. NHTSA also offers a VIN look-up tool to determine if any vehicle is under recall. It can be found here.

Some dealers provide the convenience of mobile repairs at your home or place of employment and/or vehicle pick-up and return — just ask when you call. You may also be able to get loaner vehicle to use while your vehicle is being repaired.

Please complete the short survey at LincolnAirbagSurvey.com to provide Lincoln with updated information on the vehicle for which you are receiving notices.