The automotive conglomerate Stellantis is recalling a whole bunch of 1000’s of autos — particularly Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s modeled from 2018 to 2021 — citing aspect airbags that might rupture and hurl shrapnel, in line with paperwork posted by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.
The paperwork say that airbags on each side could have a faulty inflator, placing passengers in peril of flying projectiles contained in the autos. No accidents have been reported.
Chrysler and Dodge are two of a number of automotive manufacturers within the Stellantis portfolio. The entire variety of Dodge Chargers being recalled is 217,802, whereas for Chrysler, that quantity is 67,180. Stellantis estimated in a press release Friday that the defective inflator exists in “lower than one p.c of the recall inhabitants.”
Chrysler’s regulatory compliance division opened an investigation into these vehicles on Feb. 17, 2023, and over the following yr, decided that “the affected autos could have had moisture launched into the inflator throughout provider manufacturing which will trigger inside corrosion over time.”
On March 7, the corporate initiated the recall.
Stellantis, which was shaped in 2021 via the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French automaker Peugeot, additionally introduced layoffs on Friday efficient March 31. The corporate stated it was lowering its engineering and software program work power by about 2 p.c, citing “unprecedented uncertainties and heightened aggressive pressures all over the world.”
“Whereas we perceive that is tough information, these actions will higher align assets whereas preserving the vital expertise wanted to guard our aggressive benefit,” Stellantis stated in a press release.
On the finish of 2021, Stellantis introduced a $34 billion funding via 2025 on creating software-based vehicles to rival Tesla.
One of many firm’s objectives is for 50 p.c of passenger vehicles and light-duty vehicles bought in the US to be electrical autos by the tip of the last decade. However the transition to electrical autos has not been clean. Final yr, Stellantis provided 1000’s of staff buyouts in an effort to chop prices and ease the transition.
Homeowners can be notified of the recall starting on Might 3. The inflator was manufactured by Joyson Security Techniques, the corporate that, in 2018, bought the now bankrupt Japanese provider Takata, which was answerable for the biggest recall in automotive historical past due to faulty airbags. Stellantis stated these inflators don’t use the identical design because the recalled Takata airbags.
The report cited 5 situations of shoppers complaining concerning the situation. A spokesman stated that 4 of these 5 circumstances occurred within the Center East and that the autos have been parked in all 5 of them. The corporate additionally stated that it was unaware of any accidents associated to the defect.
Final month, Jeep, which can also be owned by Stellantis, recalled greater than 330,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees — modeled between 2021 and 2023 — due to steering wheel points.
