The NHTSA has issued an urgent Do Not Drive warning for all remaining Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles with open and unrepaired Takata air bag recalls. The agency is strongly urging people not to drive these vehicles unless/until airbag repairs are performed, warning that even low-speed impacts can cause the airbags to explode and “kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries.” According to the warning, the airbags are responsible for 28 deaths and at least 400 injuries in the US alone.
Who’s Affected
The following makes and models with open Takata recalls should not be driven until remedied:
- 2003–2010 Dodge Ram (15V312, 15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2004–2009 Dodge Durango (15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021)
- 2005–2011 Dodge Dakota (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2005–2008 Dodge Magnum (15V313, 16V352)
- 2006–2015 Dodge Charger (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2007–2009 Chrysler Aspen (15V313, 16V352, 16V947, 18V021)
- 2008–2014 Dodge Challenger (15V444, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2005–2015 Chrysler 300 (15V313, 16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2007–2016 Jeep Wrangler (16V352, 18V021, 19V018)
- 2006–2009 Mitsubishi Raider (15V313, 16V352)
You’ll notice these are older vehicles, with the newest being 2016 model years, and that numerous recalls are included — this has been an ongoing problem that’s being escalated for the estimated 225,000 vehicles still on the road with this defect unrepaired.
What Should You Do?
As the notice goes to great lengths to spell out: DO NOT DRIVE these vehicles until repairs have been made. Your specific course of action is to immediately visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls to see if your vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall. If it is under recall, owners should contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and not drive the vehicle until it is repaired. Owners can call FCA’s customer service hotline at 833-585-0144.Â
An Ongoing Issue
It is worth noting this is an escalation of an ongoing issue, not a new recall. To date, more than 67 million Takata air bags have been recalled in tens of millions of vehicles across the United States. This notice appears more to be aimed at the remaining stragglers to impress the seriousness of the issue on them. And look — it’s not worth losing your face to airbag shrapnel just because you can’t be bothered to make an appointment at the dealer. You need your face (and your limbs).
Older Vehicles Not Immune
A final note: It’s important not to assume that just because your vehicle hasn’t had any issue across several minor accidents, that doesn’t mean you won’t experience the problem. The notice emphasizes that older vehicles are at higher risk (“Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, because older air bags are more likely to explode” is how they put it!), so don’t let the comfort of “so far, so good” mislead you. Yeah, your 2003 Dodge Ram is quickly approaching classic status as it enters its early twenties, but don’t let that fool you into thinking you can ignore these risks! We need you to stay healthy and whole so you can keep reading our website!
For morew information on recalls, read our previous recall coverage or visit NHTSA.gov.
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