NHTSA Warns Owners of 225,000 Dodge, Ram, and Jeep Vehicles: Don't Drive Due to Airbag Risks
Scores of older, now Stellantis-owned brands have received a Do Not Drive notice from the NHTSA. The dangerous Takata airbag scandal from a while back is still plaguing the brand and its owners, with more than 225,000 vehicles subject to the Do Not Drive.
What happened with Takata Airbags?
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The Takata airbag scandal is still one of the largest and longest-running recall campaigns in recent memory, spanning vehicles made by 34 different brands. The recall focuses on the driver's or passenger's side frontal airbags in what the NHTSA has called "the largest and most complex safety recall in US history." The airbags were installed in cars largely made from 2002 to 2015, with a few outliers.
The recall was issued because these airbags can detonate explosively, though that's ordinarily the means by which they deploy. However, these had a problem with the airbag's inflator, and a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers has been known to ignite with enough explosive force to rupture the housing, flinging shards of shrapnel at the passengers. 27 deaths were reported as of 2024, and automakers are still issuing recalls for the airbags, which only become more dangerous as time goes on.
Stellantis vehicles recalled for explosive airbags
Chrysler
The NHTSA has issued recalls for Takata airbags in the following vehicles (recall reference numbers included in parentheses):
2003–2010 Dodge Ram (15V312, 15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021, 19V018)
2004–2009 Dodge Durango (15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021)
2005–2011 Dodge Dakota (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
2005–2008 Dodge Magnum (15V313, 16V352)
2006–2015 Dodge Charger (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
2007–2009 Chrysler Aspen (15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021)
2008–2014 Dodge Challenger (15V444, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
2005–2015 Chrysler 300 (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
2007–2016 Jeep Wrangler (16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
2006–2009 Mitsubishi Raider (15V313, 16V352)
Stellantis told CBS why the recall was once again causing problems in a statement: "Over time, the chemical propellant inside certain Takata inflators can degrade, particularly in hot and humid conditions, increasing the risk of rupture during airbag deployment and the potential for metal fragments to enter the vehicle cabin." Stellantis also to CBS that the recall is to help get those last few airbags out of cars and replaced with new ones that hopefully won't turn into claymore mines: "This action is intended to accelerate the repair of the remaining affected vehicles to safeguard owners, their families and the general public from the risk of serious injury or death."
Owners are encouraged not to drive their vehicles until the airbags have been replaced, and can see the NHTSA's recall checker for further information. It's worth checking regardless of your vehicle's make, as other brands, including Honda, Ford, BMW, Nissan, and Toyota have all been or are subject to recall over these airbags.