- Stellantis and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued a "do not drive" warning for about 225,000 vehicles with unrepaired Takata airbags.
- The affected vehicles, from model years 2003 to 2016, include several Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Mitsubishi models; older vehicles face higher risk due to airbag degradation over time.
- Takata airbags use an ammonium nitrate propellant that can deteriorate in heat and humidity, potentially causing the inflator to rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin.
- The Takata airbag crisis has been linked to 28 U.S. deaths and has triggered more than 67 million recalls nationwide, including roughly 42 million vehicles recalled for airbag replacements.
- Owners are urged to check their vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA recall website and arrange free repairs immediately, using towing or mobile service options if they receive a "do not drive" notice.
Federal safety regulators and automaker Stellantis are urging owners of certain older vehicles to stop driving them immediately due to the risk of deadly airbag explosions.
On Feb. 11, FCA US, the maker of Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram vehicles before its 2020 merger and rebranding as Stellantis, issued a "do not drive" notice in coordination with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for approximately 225,000 vehicles that still contain unrepaired Takata airbags.
"This action is intended to accelerate the repair of the remaining affected vehicles to safeguard owners, their families and the general public from the risk of serious injury or death," Stellantis said. "Over time, the chemical propellant inside certain Takata inflators can degrade, particularly in hot and humid conditions, increasing the risk of rupture during airbag deployment and the potential for metal fragments to enter the vehicle cabin."
The affected vehicles span model years 2003 through 2016 and include a broad range of cars and trucks. Regulators emphasized that older vehicles face a heightened danger because the airbag inflators degrade over time, increasing the likelihood of rupture.
The NHTSA is urging owners of certain older Dodge models, including Ram, Durango, Dakota, Magnum, Challenger and Charger, as well as Chrysler 300 and Aspen, Jeep Wrangler and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles to immediately check whether their vehicles are subject to the recall.
Owners can enter their vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA recall website to determine if repairs are needed. Repairs are provided free of charge.
Safety officials also stressed that drivers who receive a "do not drive" notice should contact their dealer immediately to schedule a repair and explore options such as towing or mobile repair services to avoid operating the vehicle.
The Takata airbag crisis has recorded 28 deaths and 67 million recalls to date
A Takata airbag, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a type of vehicle safety device manufactured by the Takata Corporation. The ammonium nitrate propellant, while cheaper, is inherently unstable and prone to degradation, yet Takata continued to use it, leading to a catastrophic failure that has claimed lives and caused widespread suffering.
The roots of the massive Takata airbag recall stretch back to the early 2000s, when the Japanese parts supplier began producing airbags with a defect that regulators say has been linked to 28 deaths in the United States. However, widespread public awareness of the danger did not emerge until 2013, when regulators began issuing broader recalls.
Since then, the NHTSA has recorded that more than 67 million vehicles equipped with Takata airbags have been recalled nationwide, including roughly 42 million for airbag replacements. Yet the scale of the recall, one of the largest in automotive history, has made it a yearslong effort, with many vehicles still on the road carrying unrepaired inflators.
As a result, Stellantis is once again urging the owners of 225,000 affected vehicles to have the defective airbags replaced as soon as possible.
Watch the following video about Nissan warning owners of older vehicles who are at risk of exploding airbag inflators.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
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