It was reported on Friday that multinational automotive manufacturer Stellantis is recalling almost 285,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans. Excessive force upon impact may cause the side air bag inflators to rupture, projecting metal shards towards occupants in the event of a crash.
The recall order covers inflators on both sides of Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s, large cars from the 2018 through 2021 model years.
In a document from the automaker and posted by US safety regulators, the automaker says moisture may get into the inflators and cause corrosion and cracks due to a manufacturing defect.
The documents further state that Stellantis has seven warranty claims and customer assistance reports but no reports of injuries. Dealers will replace both side airbag modules.
Owners will be notified starting May 3. The company believes that 1% of the inflators are defective.
Made by Joyson Safety Systems, which was then bought out by Takata after bankruptcy, the inflators use ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion.
However, the propellant container can deteriorate over time and exposure to high temperatures and humidity.
This could cause the propellant's housing to explode and send shrapnel throughout the cabin of a vehicle.
It is uncertain whether Takata, the current manufacturer of the airbag, was involved in designing them or if the company made the decision to use ammonium nitrate as a propellant.
According to the Associated Press, 26 people have been killed in the United States by Takata inflators since 2009, and at least 30 people have died worldwide.
Additionally, some 400 people have been injured. The potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history. About 100 million Takata inflators were recalled worldwide.
