- Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 cars from the 2018 through 2021 model years.
- The issue is a defective inflator in the cars’ side curtain airbags that could cause the airbags to rupture, potentially sending metal fragments into the cabin.
- The automaker will notify owners of the recall on May 3 and will replace the inflators free of charge.
Stellantis, in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced the recall of 217,802 Dodge Charger and 67,180 Chrysler 300 sedans, all from 2018 through 2021 model years. The problem is a defective side curtain airbag inflator, an issue that is predicted to affect about 1 percent of the recalled vehicles.
In the recall report, Stellantis says that the “suspect inflators” were used between July 2018 and May 2021 and then were no longer used in the cars, based on production records. The automaker said that its analysis of the issue shows the vehicles “may have had moisture introduced into the inflator during supplier manufacturing that may cause internal corrosion over time and potentially leading to Stress Corrosion Cracking in the inflator.”
The issue could cause the airbag to rupture and even to send metal fragments into the cabin, leading to injury. Stellantis said that as of February 2024, it is aware of two warranty claims and five customer assistance records, but no reports of injuries. Recalled vehicles will get both side curtain airbags replaced with new ones using inflators manufactured outside the recall period, according to NHTSA documents.
Owners will be notified of the recall starting on May 3. In the meantime, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger owners can check the NHTSA recalls site to see if their vehicle is affected.
Laura Sky Brown has been involved in automotive media for a very long time, and she sees it as her calling to guard the legacy and help ensure the continued high quality of Car and Driver. She was one of the first staffers at Automobile Magazine in the ’80s and has worked for many other car magazines and websites as a writer, editor, and copy editor ever since. It has been her privilege to edit many of the greats of automotive journalism over the years, including the ones who currently write for C/D.