Drivers of certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles are being urged by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to avoid driving their cars if they have unresolved recalls related to Takata air bags. This stern warning arises from the serious defects in these air bags, which have been linked to fatalities and injuries.
In response to these concerns, Stellantis North America, the parent company of these automobile brands, has issued an urgent “do not drive” advisory. The company is stressing the critical nature of this defect, noting its potential to be life-threatening.
To address this issue, the NHTSA has advised vehicle owners to get in touch with their local dealerships to arrange a complimentary repair at their earliest convenience. As of the latest update, FCA US, operating under Stellantis, reports that approximately 225,000 vehicles remain unrepaired.
Owners can quickly verify whether their vehicle is affected by the recall by visiting the NHTSA’s official website. For convenience, a list of vehicles impacted is also available for review.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by data from the NHTSA, which has recorded 28 fatalities in the United States directly linked to exploding Takata air bags. Furthermore, over 400 individuals have sustained injuries in similar incidents, highlighting the urgent need for vehicle owners to heed this recall.
- 2003–2010 Dodge Ram (15V312, 15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2004–2009 Dodge Durango (15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021)
- 2005–2011Dodge 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)
The news release from NHTSA adds that the agency has documented 28 deaths in the U.S. from Takata air bags that have exploded. Additionally, at least 400 people have been injured by exploding Takata air bags, reports NHTSA.
“Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries. Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, because older air bags are more likely to explode,” the news release adds.
NHTSA adds that there are several ways to check if your vehicle has had a recall:
- Use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool to use your license plate number or vehicle identification number to search for any open safety recalls, including the urgent Takata recall.
- Download our SaferCar app and let it check automatically for you.
- If your vehicle does have a safety recall, call your automaker’s local dealership to schedule the free recall repair.
- Sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts to be notified by email if your vehicle is affected by a future recall.
