Dodge and Chrysler Issue Urgent Recall Warning for Older Challengers, Chargers, Magnums and Chrysler 300s

Stellantis and FCA US LLC, the former parent company of Dodge and Chrysler are urging all owners of some older-model Dodge Challengers, Chargers, Magnums and Chrysler 300 vehicles to immediately stop driving them and contact the Company to obtain repairs to driver side airbags. The company is confirming that a third person has been killed by an exploding defective Takata airbag inflator.

Affected Dodge and Chrysler Vehicles

Affected are the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Challenger and Charger from model years 2005-2010. Owners or custodians of these unrepaired vehicles are urged to call 833-585-0144. FCA US will then arrange to have them towed, free of charge, to accommodate the free service, which takes less than an hour, on average.

“Time is a critical element here because the risk increases with each day these air-bag inflators go unreplaced,” said Tom McCarthy, global head of Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance at Stellantis. “We have the parts, and the service is free. We will provide alternative transportation, also free, to help people get to and from our dealerships, as needed.”

Why the Recall Urgency

The company sent out a warning and recall notice in November but became even more concerned after a third death was confirmed. The company knows that there are approximately 274,000 vehicles affected and they have not seen that many vehicles repaired yet.

The company’s statement says “We strongly reiterate our previous warning, having confirmed a third Takata-related fatality involving this population of vehicles. They are equipped with Takata air-bag inflators whose chemical properties may deteriorate over time, particularly if exposed to hot, humid climates.

Such conditions may cause the inflators to rupture on deployment, scattering razor-sharp debris capable of causing serious injury or death.”

“We understand the holiday season is a busy time,” McCarthy added. “But nothing is more precious than family and friends who may also be exposed to danger by further delaying service which, again, is free.”

The Third Takata Air-Bag Inflator Fatality

The person who was recently killed was in a vehicle that had not been repaired. The vehicle’s owner inquired with the Company about the driver-side air-bag recall in 2018, but then declined an opportunity to schedule the free service at a dealership. FCA US continued to send urgent notifications to this owner through 2022, contributing to a total of 114 outreach attempts over a seven-year period.

In July, the owner loaned the vehicle to a family member who was subsequently killed in a crash when the driver-side air bag ruptured on deployment.

The Company extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those affected by the three confirmed Takata-related fatalities. A total of 269 outreach attempts were made to owners of these vehicles.

FCA US implores owners and custodians of the vehicles listed above to join the customers who have responded to warnings over the years and helped us replace 6.1 million defective Takata air-bag inflators. Since the recall was launched, we have reached out to those affected nearly 210 million times using standard and first-class mail, courier service, e-mail, text messages, phone calls and home visits.

Air bags of the variety subject to this recall have not been used in FCA US vehicle production since 2016.

What Owners Should Do

If owners are unsure if their vehicle has been repaired, they are urged to call 833-585-0144, or enter their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) on checktoprotect.org. They may also check their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) at mopar.com/recalls.

Armen Hareyan Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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