Ford recalls over 230,000 Ranger vehicles to fix mistakes made in previous recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Ford Motor Co. (F) are recalling certain 2004 to 2006 Ranger vehicles because replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

The vehicles had received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The NHTSA said that an incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Ford discovered the issue during an audit of the recall work.

Ford had supplied the technicians tasked with swapping the inflators with service instructions and a diagram explaining how to carry out the work, but those who were found to have mis-installed the inflators told Ford they hadn’t bothered to read those instructions before making the swap.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that the recall includes 231,942 vehicles.

Shares of F are up 3.68% in afternoon trading on Friday.

By Michael Elkins | Michael.Elkins@streetinsider.com