Don’t Drive These Cars With Exploding Airbags
The last thing you expect when you get into a car is to be injured or killed by a device designed to save your life. For more than 276,000 Chrysler and Dodge owners with defunct Takata airbags, this could be a real risk.
Stellantis , formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, issued a driving ban after two people died in separate accidents in which airbags deployed with deadly force. The airbag may also have been at fault for the additional collision that resulted in the death of a third person . All vehicles covered by the new order were previously recalled due to airbag safety issues in 2015, and free repairs have been made available to owners since then, but many vehicles have yet to be repaired, Stallantis said.
According to a statement from the National Highway and Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when vehicles are involved in an accident that inflates airbags, a faulty inflator can cause the Takata airbags to explode, sending metal fragments towards drivers or passengers with deadly force. According to a CNBC report, the chemical used to ignite the small explosion that inflates airbags in a crash can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture and high temperatures. Then the explosion breaks the metal canister, and the fragments fall into the cabin.
Takata went bankrupt in 2017 due to lawsuits over injuries and deaths caused by their airbags. Reportedly, 32 people worldwide have died from airbag blasts, and up to 100 million defective airbags have been recalled.
Which cars are being recalled
The NHTSA report follows the 2015 Takata recall that affected 34 million vehicles across 12 brands. In the report , Stellantis issued a “don’t drive” warning for the following models unless their owners have already repaired them:
- Dodge Magnum 2005-2010
- Charger 2005-2010
- Challenger 2005-2010
- Chrysler 300s 2005-2010
The warning comes after two separate crashes involving a 2010 Dodge Charger in which the driver’s side airbags exploded after the collision, killing the drivers. According to the report, the NHTSA “is aware of several other suspected inflator bursts in vehicles from other automakers that could be caused by the explosion of Takata airbags.” If you are not sure if your vehicle is eligible for a recall or not, enter your VIN in the NHTSA Safety and Recall Site field.
What to do if you drive one of these cars
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning drivers not to drive their affected vehicles, even to pick them up to take care of the recall. He also urges all vehicle owners to check if their vehicle has Takata airbags and contact the appropriate dealership as soon as possible to schedule a free repair. Caring for a recalled vehicle should be a priority, as even minor accidents can cause airbags to deploy, which can result in injury or death.
To speak with the manufacturer, you can call the Stellantis Takata call center directly at 833-585-0144 or visit their website .