Key Takeaways
- Over 300,000 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles are affected by the recall.
- Customers are urged to comply and replace side airbag inflators.
- Dealers will be ready with a remedy, free of charge.
More than 300,000 units of Stellantis vehicles are being recalled due to faulty side airbag inflators that can cause injuries or, in some cases, death. The 2018-2021 model years Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, both underpinned by the defunct Chrysler LX platform, are affected by the recall, manufactured between July 5, 2018, and May 19, 2021.
A total of 284,982 units in the US are part of the recall, while another 10,285 vehicles are located in Canada and 3,502 in Mexico. Meanwhile, 18,820 examples are found in markets outside North America. However, Stellantis said the defective part only exists in one percent of the recall population. Then again, customers are still urged to comply with the recall and have their side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) modules replaced.
What’s The Defect?
According to Stellantis, the defective SABIC inflators may have moisture inside, which was introduced while the supplier made the part. This moisture could lead to corrosion and potential rupture, which could discharge materials or parts into the cabin, possibly causing injuries or even fatalities. Fortunately, the company said no injuries were reported related to the faulty inflators. The five incidents investigated by Stellantis all occurred when the vehicle’s interior temperature exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stellantis said in a press release that a remedy has already been developed and parts are being obtained, so dealers will be equipped to execute the remedy to the recalled vehicles.
Related
2003 Dodge Ram Owners Warned To Stop Driving Their Trucks Immediately
There’s been another death, this the 26th connected to the Takata airbag inflator scandal.
Deadly Airbag Inflators
This isn’t the first recall connected to airbag inflators, but most incidents are connected to the infamous Takata scandal that rocked the automotive industry in the past decade. Millions of vehicles from various automakers were recalled after countless numbers of deaths caused by faulty airbag inflators.
In this recent Stellantis recall, the supplier of the SABIC module was Joyson Safety Systems, which has its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Other airbag inflator manufacturers, ARC Automotive and Delphi, are being urged by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a recall of their defective products – a notion the two companies strongly disagree with.
