Fed reportedly expanding investigation into Ford F-150 airbags

Back in October,  the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a Ford F-150 airbag investigation. There were 530,000 2005 model year F-150s involved in the investigation before Halloween, but now the number has swelled to 1.56 million trucks spanning the 2004-2006 model years. The government agency has also upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis one step closer to a recall.

The F-150 airbags are being investigated because the administration has reportedly received some 300 complaints of airbags that deployed without an accident. An earlier report revealed that the majority of the premature airbag deployments happened at ignition or directly after ignition a really lousy wake up call first thing in the morning. Of the 300 complaints, there were 60 injuries, including cuts and bruises and two people reported being knocked unconscious as a result of the airbag deployment.

Ford, which is reportedly cooperating with the federal government in the investigation, predictably doesn't want to speculate as to whether the investigation will lead to a full-blown recall.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/26/fed-reportedly-expanding-investigation-into-ford-f-150-airbags/

So, my fellow Pontiac lovers, no manufacturer is immune. What with emissions, fuel economy and safety regulations, every vehicle has been turned into a complicated and expensive piece of machinery. No longer can we trust in simplicity and reliability...."But golly gee, Wally, we'll be so safe and green".............until the airbag blows up in our face or the car accelerates into the nearest brick wall, or the brakes fail, yada, yada, yada.