Chrysler is recalling 286,000 vehicles over airbag concerns

Chrysler is recalling about 286,000 vehicles over concerns that the airbags in the vehicles could rupture, which could injure or even kill people.

According to separate notices published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recalls involve some Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles from the 2018-2021 model years, with airbag replacement parts in approximately 1,000 vehicles.

The announcement states that the side components of the curtain airbags may rupture, which “may cause sharp metal fragments to strike the occupants, causing injury or death.”

Warnings about the recalled parts add that “inflator rupture if not installed in the vehicle could cause injury or death to bystanders.”

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The automaker plans to send out notices to owners of the affected vehicles and recall them in early May, and dealers will replace the side airbags, free of charge.

Stellantis-owned Chrysler said some vehicles may have had SABIC’s premium quality air conditioners that had moisture introduced during the distributor’s manufacturing. This can lead to stress corrosion and possible cracking.

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These manufacturers do not use the same propellant or inflator design as Takata’s previously recalled airbags, the automaker said.

The Stellantis sign is visible outside its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/Reuters Image)

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Stellantis last year had warned 29,000 owners of 2003 Dodge Ram pickups to immediately stop driving pending repairs after one person was killed when a Takata airbag inflator exploded.

Reuters contributed to this report.