Ford India has said it may recall 40,000 Figo hatchbacks and Figo Aspire compact sedans to fix a software glitch that can affect the functioning of airbags. "Of 40,000 cars, nearly half will be [the] Figo hatchback, while the rest will be [the] Aspire," a Ford India spokesperson told the Times of India. The report adds that deliveries of the vehicles were suspended last week and the automaker is looking into the issue. "We have issued a dealer demonstration and delivery hold notice as we investigate a software concern related to the Restraints Control Module with the Figo and Figo Aspire," the report cites the spokesperson as saying. It is unclear when deliveries might resume, although the report cites an unnamed source as saying that it will not take long. A query from IHS Automotive to Ford India remained unanswered at the time of writing.
Significance: Ford launched the twin models late last year to a positive market reception. Since both vehicles include the driver-side airbag as a standard safety feature, the issue affects practically all units of the new-generation Ford Figo and Figo Aspire. What is sold in India as the next-generation Figo is known globally as the Ka, and Ford supplies the vehicle to several overseas markets from India. As a result, it is possible that the issue may have affected vehicles exported from India. The issue may affect sales of the automaker, which has struggled with recalls in India in the past.
