Urgent recall for 286,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans over faulty airbag that can explode and shoot sharp metal objects - is YOUR model affected?

Stellantis is recalling 286,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans in the US - because the side air bag inflators can explode with too much force and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers.

The recall covers airbag inflators on the driver and passenger sides of some Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 cars from 2018 to 2021 model years.

Both are large sedans that share most of their engineering, but Stellatis - the parent company - says the airbags are not in any other cars.

Moisture may have gotten into the inflators during manufacturing, and this can cause corrosion and cracks, the company said.

The knock-on effect is that the airbags can inflate even without a crash due to high temperatures in the cabin.

Dodge Chargecars from 2018 to 2021 model years are affected by the recall

Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans, Friday, March 22, 2024, because the side air bag inflators can explode with too much force and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers

Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans, Friday, March 22, 2024, because the side air bag inflators can explode with too much force and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers

This ‘may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death,’ the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Stellantis has seven warranty claims and customer assistance reports but no reports of injuries, the documents said. Most of the recalled vehicles are in North America. Stellantis estimates that 1 percent of the inflators are defective.

Dealers will replace both side air bag modules. Owners will be notified starting May 3. Stellantis said in a statement Friday that owners who are concerned about driving their cars should contact the company.

It would not say if loan vehicles would be offered.

The inflators are made by Joyson Safety Systems, a company that ended up acquiring Japanese troubled airbag maker Takata after its bankruptcy.

Takata is now bankrupt, but more than 100 million of it products went into vehicles made by more than a dozen automakers

At least 26 people have been killed in the US. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia.

In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in American history.

About 100 million Takata inflators were recalled worldwide.

Stellantis said the latest problems with the air bags are unrelated to the problem with the previously recalled Takata air bags.

In five cases investigated by the company, the air bags inflated while the vehicles were parked when the cabin temperature was above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).