Are UK cars affected by the worldwide Ford recall?

Ford has announced a worldwide recall of more than 953,000 cars due to safety concerns over defective airbag inflators.But Which? has discovered that UK cars are not affected.

The inflators, built by Japanesecar parts company Takata, are found in Ford models including the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.

Keep scrolling for more on the Takata recall, which is part of the largest series of recalls in US history.

Best cars for 2020 - our expert reviews.

Ford Takata recall: what's the problem?

The ammonium nitrate used to inflate the airbags in some cars has been found to deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity.This change can cause the inflators to explode under excessive force, blowing apart the metal canister designed to contain the explosion.

At least 23 people have been killed worldwide by failed Takata inflators found in vehicles from Acura, Ford and Honda. However, Ford says it does not know of any injuries occurring in vehicles included in this latest recall.

Over 782,000 vehicles in the US are affected by the recall, while a further149,652 are on Canadian roads.

Which Ford cars have been recalled?

Ford has told Which? that none of its cars in the UK use Takata airbag inflators. In other words, UK drivers aren't affected by this latest recall.

The following Ford cars in the US and Canada are affected by the Takata recall:

• 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
• 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger
• 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ
• 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan
• 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang

US and Canadian owners can access Ford's Takata airbag recall service pageand enter their vehicle identification number to see if their cars and SUVs are being recalled.

In a press statement, Ford confirmed that dealers in affected regions will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator or module 'at no cost to the customer'.

Has your Ford car been recalled?

Just because your car isn't part of this recall, it doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't part of an existing recall.

To check whether there are any outstanding recalls on your car, or on one you're thinking of buying, simply enter the car's registration number on the GOV.uk website.

How does Ford compare with other car brands?

As one of the UK's bestselling car brands, Ford sells an expansive range of cars, including the ever-popularFord Fiesta. To date, we've tested more than 35 different Ford models, paying close attention toease of driving, performance on the road and comfort.

The FordFocus(below), which is one of the most popular medium hatchback cars, was the fifth bestselling car in 2018, with the Ford Kuga SUV close behind in ninth place.

Take a look at our guide to buying a Ford car to find out how reliable the brand is and whether there are any common faults you should be aware of. You can also see how Ford's reliability compares with its rivals by checking our car brand reliability tool.