Owners of old Dodge and Chrysler vehicles told to stop driving after recent airbag fatalities

Following the latest fatal accident in a Sterantis vehicle, the automaker announced Thursday that owners of certain Dodge and Chrysler vehicles must immediately stop driving their vehicles until the defective airbags are replaced.

The vehicles listed in the Sterantis warning include Dodge Challengers, Chargers, and Magnums from model years 2005-2010, and Chrysler 300s of the same age. Approximately 276,000 vehicles are affected in the U.S.

The recall for these vehicles was first issued in 2015, but according to Sterantis, many owners did not send their vehicles in for repair. The company plans to continue to encourage these owners to have them serviced, either by mail, email, text message, phone call, or home visit.

Since the Takata airbag investigation began in 2014, the Japanese company has filed for bankruptcy and been absorbed by Chinese rival Key Safety Systems. In addition, three former Takata executives were convicted of falsifying data leading to defective airbags. At its peak, Takata is believed to have had a 20% share of the airbag market.

The problem stemmed from the use of ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbags. Ammonium nitrate is more likely to explode over time when exposed to moist air and high temperatures. As volatility increases, the metal canister inside the airbag can rupture, creating potentially fatal debris.

For further information, please contact Stellantis at 833-585-0144. You can also check vehicle identification numbers (VINs) at mopar.com/recalls, checktoprotect.org, or nhtsa.gov/recalls.