Stellantis Recalls Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s, Citing Airbag Problem

The car association Stellantis is remember hundreds of thousands of vehicles — specifically Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s built from 2018 to 2021 — exhibit side airbags that can rupture and blow into pieces, according to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The documents state that the airbags on both sides may have a faulty device, putting passengers at risk of projectiles flying into the vehicles. No injuries have been reported.

Chrysler and Dodge are two of several automotive brands in the Stellantis portfolio. The total number of Dodge Charger recalls is 217,802, while for Chrysler, the number is 67,180. Stellantis estimated in a statement Friday that negative inflation is in “less than one percent of people’s memory.”

Chrysler’s regulatory compliance department opened an investigation into the vehicles on February 17, 2023, and in the following year, determined that “the affected vehicles may have had moisture introduced into the lifter during distributor manufacturing that could cause internal corrosion over time.”

On March 7, the company launched a recall.

Stellantis, which was created in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French carmaker Peugeot, also announced layoffs on Friday effective March 31. The company said it is reducing its engineering and software workforce by about 2 percent, giving an example of “uncertain and unusual. increasing competitive pressures around the world.”

“While we understand this is difficult news, these moves will better align resources while preserving the critical skills needed to protect our competitive advantage,” Stellantis said in a statement.

At the end of 2021, Stellantis announced a $34 billion investment through 2025 in developing software-based cars to compete with Tesla.

One of the company’s goals is that 50 percent of passenger and light cargo vehicles sold in the United States will be electric the end of the decade. But the transition to electric vehicles has not been smooth. Last year, Stellantis offered thousands of employee buyouts in an effort to cut costs and streamline transitions.

Owners will be notified of the recall starting May 3. The inflator was manufactured by Joyson Safety Systems, a company that, in 2018, bought the now-bankrupt Japanese distributor Takata, which was responsible for the largest recall in automotive history due to defective airbags. . Stellantis said these inventors do not use the same design as the Takata airbags that have been recalled.

The report cited five instances of customers complaining about the issue. The spokesman said that four of the five cases occurred in the Middle East and that the vehicles were parked in all five. Company he also said that it was not aware of any injuries related to the defect.

Last month, Jeep, which is also owned by Stellantis, recalled more than 330,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees – built between 2021 and 2023 – due to steering issues.