Ford Dealers Given Deadline Over Air Bag Training Course

As Ford Authority reported last week, a pair of recent recalls stemming from a problem with airbags led to another issue for The Blue Oval – it later discovered that some affected vehicles weren’t repaired properly by select Ford dealers, which prompted the automaker to go back and inspect those repairs to ensure they were completed correctly. Now, The Blue Oval is taking more action to ensure this process is done right moving forward – it has implemented a “new” training course pertaining to supplemental restraints such as airbags, which Ford dealers must have their technicians complete by April 1^st, according to the Detroit Free Press.

This news come from an emailed letter sent by the automaker’s regional zone service managers this past Friday to Ford dealers reminding them of the deadline, which also notes that 46 percent of techs have completed the training for field service actions (FSA) thus far. “The proper completion of FSA repairs can impact the safety and satisfaction of Ford and Lincoln customers,” the letter reads. “To help ensure that FSA repairs are being completed correctly, any technician completing an FSA repair is required to be certified.”

According to Ford, FSAs include things like customer service programs, but not formal recalls. This particular piece of training covers five specific service modules revolving around steering and suspension, braking systems, high voltage system safety, and supplemental restraints, with the latter curriculum being added to address both seat belt tensioners and airbags.

In the letter, Ford noted that the requirements of this certification program “will be enforced” following the deadline, and warns that dealers who allow non-certified technicians to complete work afterward constitutes “false practice” – violations that could result in punishment that escalates all the up to the potential termination of a dealer franchise, in fact. However, Ford denies that this newly updated program is related to the aforementioned report regarding airbag issues. “The training touches on a broad range of topics – from steering and suspensions, to brake systems and EVs,” said Ford spokeswoman Maria Buczkowski. “The supplemental restraint training has been available to technicians in some form since 2009, with the majority already completing this coursework over the past few years as part of other requirements.”

We’ll have more on this matter soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for non-stop Ford news coverage.