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Last updated on Friday, June 3, 2016
(UNDATED) - Ford is expanding its recall of Takata airbags, and now we’re learning some brand new cars are being sold with defective airbags in them.
Ford announced Wednesday they are recalling nearly 2 million vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbags on the front passenger side. They include the Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang, Ranger and Lincoln MKZ dating back to as early as 2005.
There's also a jaw-dropping report from the U.S. Senate that will make some new car buyers furious. It says four major automakers - Fiat-Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volkswagen - have been, and are still installing defective airbags in new cars.
"It's absolutely ridiculous that the American consumer buys a new car only to find out in two years that it is going to be recalled," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
But a statement from Fiat-Chrysler and a group of analysts says the new airbags aren't defective just yet. The automaker says that while older Takata airbags are malfunctioning, the newer ones are a safe temporary fix until a new design is available.
But the Senate report shows customers aren't being told any of this, and lawmakers say consumers should be told.
Eventually the defective airbags will have to be recalled years from now.
So far, at least 100 injuries and 13 deaths have been linked to the airbag defect.
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