The number of vehicles affected by potentially defective Takata airbags continues to grow. This time it comes from Ford, with the manufacturer expanding its previous recall regarding the Ranger pickup truck, bringing the total number of affected trucks to 23,713.

Bloomberg reports the 9,792 vehicle expansion came after a fifth death was tied to Takata airbags in Malaysia last week.

While the vehicle linked to the latest death was a Honda model, the airbag used in the car is similar to, but not the same as the safety device used in model year 2004 to 2005 Ford Rangers.

According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford will now replace both the driver’s side and the passenger airbags of the affected vehicles.

Under the initial recall [PDF], Ford was only replacing the passenger side airbags in 13,921 Rangers that were originally sold or are currently registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The trucks were recalled for the same reasons nearly 16 million other vehicles have been recalled since 2008: upon deployment of the driver side and/or passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture sending shrapnel flying at passengers with enough force to result in injury or death.

Officials with Ford say the expanded recall was in part due to NHTSA’s request that manufactures participate in field service action to investigate Tataka airbags.

Defective Takata airbags have been the center of much scrutiny this year. So far five deaths and countless injuries have been linked to the safety devices.

Just last month, NHTSA urged owners of affected vehicles to have them fixed as soon as possible. However, many manufacturers say they don’t have the parts available.

The Japanese parts maker is currently under investigation by NHTSA regarding its reporting processes and its lack of action after reportedly knowing about the issue four years before the first recall was initiated.

Ford Expands Ranger Pickup Recall for Takata Air Bags [Bloomberg]

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