CNN
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Stellandis in the U.S. is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans because they have side-screen airbag inflators that send explosive metal fragments flying into the cabin.
Airbag inflators rely on a chemical reaction that causes gas to rapidly inflate the airbag. 300 models installed in the charger and production run from 2018 to 2021 may have gotten moisture inside the inflators. That water can lead to internal corrosion and, possibly, cracking of the blower. Documents Stellandis filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Charger and 300 are large sedans that share much of their engineering. According to the documents, the airbag inflators involved in this recall are not installed on any other Stelantis model.
Although similar to the situation that led to the recall of millions of Takada airbag inflators used in various vehicles, the problem is apparently unrelated.
In early May, Stellandis will send out letters to owners of the charger and 300 cars that have problems. Owners will be advised to bring their cars to the dealership to have the side airbags on both sides of the vehicles replaced. The work will be done at no cost to owners, and those who have already had their side curtain airbags replaced will be reimbursed.
Stellandis is not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from these problems. There are five known cases of airbag inflators exploding. In each case, they were in parked vehicles in which interior temperatures reached over 120 degrees, especially in hot weather.
