US Ford pickup owners warned after new Takata death

WASHINGTON: Ford Motor Co said Thursday it had confirmed a second death in a older pickup truck caused by a defective Takata airbag inflater and urged 2,900 owners in North America to stop driving immediately until they can get replacement parts.

The second largest US automaker said it was able to confirm in late December that a July 2017 crash death in West Virginia in a 2006 Ford Ranger was caused by a defective Takata inflater.

It previously reported a similar death in January 2016.

Ford said both Takata deaths occurred with inflaters built on the same day.

At least 21 deaths worldwide are believed linked to the Takata inflaters that can rupture and send deadly metal fragments that has led to the largest automotive recall in history.

All of the other deaths have occurred in Honda Motor Co.