Washington, April 15 (IANS/EFE) Ford has informed the US government that it will recall about 1.19 million F-150 pick-up trucks produced from 2004 through 2006 as well as Lincoln Mark LT 2006 models for a defect that can cause accidental airbag deployment.

In February, Ford had announced the recall of 135,000 F-150s for the same problem after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, began an investigation of the defect.

The NHTSA had requested that Ford issue the recall of about 1.3 million F-150s after receiving - by November 2010 - reports of 238 incidents in which the forward airbags had been activated unnecessarily.

After resisting the request for weeks, James Vondale, the head of Ford's office of vehicle safety, sent the NHTSA a letter dated April 11 in which the company made known that it had changed its opinion on the matter.

Vondale said that after continuing to have discussions with the NHTSA and to calm down customers regarding Ford's commitment to safety and eliminate any possible confusion, Ford was issuing a "voluntary recall" of the remaining vehicles.

The letter adds that the Lincoln Mark LT 2006 model would also be recalled and mentions that it had not been included in the earlier recall request.

Ford said that the owners of the affected vehicles will be notified soon so that they can take them to the dealers for repair.