The U.S. arm of automaker Stellantis has issued a “do not drive” warning to roughly 276,000 older model year vehicles that are subject to Takata airbag recalls.
Models included in the warning include 2005-10 Dodge Magnums, Chargers, Challengers and Chrysler 300s.
NHTSA is telling all vehicle owners to check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall. The warning comes after two such airbags exploded in two separate incidents involving 2010 Dodge Chargers, killing two people, the top auto safety regulator said. A third death is suspected, Stellantis said.
“Left unrepaired, recalled Takata airbags are increasingly dangerous as the risk of an explosion rises as vehicles age. Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled airbag replaced puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death,” said Ann Carlson, NHTSA acting administrator, in a statement.
“The longer these particular vehicles remain unrepaired, the greater the risk of an airbag rupture, in event of a crash,” Stellantis said in a statement.
All customers who have the airbags will receive a free repair.
The Takata recall has been the largest in global automotive history. More than 100 million vehicles have been recalled worldwide.
The danger comes from rare instances of metal fragments being sent flying into passengers upon airbag deployment. More than 30 deaths and 400 injuries worldwide have been tied to the defective part.
Recalls have affected nearly every major automaker, particlarly Honda Motor Co. Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors and Subaru, among others, have also issued major recalls for the airbags.
Japan-based Takata filed for bankruptcy in June 2017, and its assets are now part of Chinese-owned supplier Joyson Safety Systems.
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