Last month, Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) urgently asked those customers who own a 2005 to 2010 Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger who have not yet addressed the Takata driver-side air-bag recall to immediately stop driving their vehicles. Now, the automaker is reissuing the statement just before the Holiday weekend.
The statement reissue comes as a third Takata-related fatality involving this population of vehicles. Those 300, Magnum, Charger, and Challenger models are equipped with Takata airbag inflators whose chemical properties may deteriorate over time, particularly if exposed to hot, humid climates.
Such conditions may cause the inflators to rupture on deployment, scattering razor-sharp debris capable of causing serious injury or death.
“Time is a critical element here because the risk increases with each day these air-bag inflators go unreplaced,” said Tom McCarthy, Head of Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance at Stellantis. “We have the parts, and the service is free. We will provide alternative transportation, also free, to help people get to and from our dealerships, as needed.”
Owners or custodians of these unrepaired vehicles are urged to call 833-585-0144. FCA US will then arrange to have them towed, free of charge, to accommodate the free service, which takes less than an hour, on average.
“We understand the holiday season is a busy time,” McCarthy added. “But nothing is more precious than family and friends who may also be exposed to danger by further delaying service which, again, is free.”
On December 16th, FCA US formally advised NHTSA of the additional fatality in the stop-drive population, which comprises approximately 274,000 vehicles.
The vehicle’s owner inquired with FCA US about the driver-side airbag recall in 2018, but then declined an opportunity to schedule the free service at a dealership. FCA US continued to send urgent notifications to this owner through 2022, contributing to a total of 114 outreach attempts over a 7-year period.
In July, the owner loaned the vehicle to a family member who was subsequently killed in a crash when the driver-side airbag ruptured on deployment.
FCA US has said that it extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those affected by the three confirmed Takata-related fatalities. A total of 269 outreach attempts were made to the owners of these vehicles.
FCA US implores owners and custodians of the vehicles listed above to join the customers who have responded to warnings over the years and helped us replace 6.1 million defective Takata airbag inflators. Since the recall was launched, we have reached out to those affected nearly 210 million times using standard and first-class mail, courier service, e-mail, text messages, phone calls, and home visits.
Airbags subject to this recall have not been used in FCA US vehicle production since 2016.
If owners are unsure if their vehicle has been repaired, they are urged to call 833-585-0144 or enter their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) on checktoprotect.org.
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