Stellantis has issued a recall for a large number of Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles due to a defect in manufacturing that could lead to unexpected airbag ruptures, causing metal fragments to be ejected and posing a serious risk to passengers.
According to recall documents from Fiat Chrysler America (FCA), the company initiated an investigation into the inflator issue after discovering that some of the "affected vehicles may have had moisture introduced into the inflator." The presence of moisture likely resulted in corrosion within the inflator, increasing the risk of rupture. If the inflator ruptures, compressed gas could escape rapidly along with potential material being propelled throughout the vehicle, as outlined in the recall documents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a formal communication to Chrysler regarding the recall, highlighted the severe consequences of an inflator rupture, stating that it could lead to sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or even death.
The manufacturer has issued a recall for 284,982 vehicles, including certain Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 cars from 2018-2021. Owners can expect notification letters to be sent out on May 3, 2024, requesting proof of payment for their recalled car to receive full reimbursement for repair costs. Dealers will replace both side airbags free of charge, according to the recall notice.
For more information, owners can contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403, using the recall number 19B. They can also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA safety issue ID is 24V198 and can be tracked here.
This recall follows a previous one by Stellantis-owned Chrysler, where over 338,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees were recalled due to a ball joint issue that could lead to a loss of control and potential crashes.
