USA - FCA US LLC voluntarily recalls a further 4.3 million cars for MORE Takata Airbag issues.

FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 4.3 million older-model vehicles in the U.S. to replace their front-passenger air bag inflators.

This action follows a defect filing by supplier Takata Corp., which advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the inflators use ammonium nitrate as a propellant, without benefit of a chemical drying agent. 

Prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity and high temperatures may cause this propellant to degrade. Activation of degraded non-desiccated ammonium nitrate may cause an inflator rupture, possibly propelling fragments through the vehicle cabin.

The Company is unaware of any injuries or accidents involving FCA US vehicles subject to this campaign; nor have there been any ruptures in nearly 6,300 exploratory tests of passenger-side inflators taken from FCA US vehicles registered in regions subject to high absolute humidity.

These test vehicles also were representative of the oldest vehicles in this recall population (mostly model years 2004 and 2005), thus experiencing the longest exposure to potentially problematic environmental conditions.

This campaign includes an estimated 1 million vehicles that would have been recalled at a later date under NHTSA’s coordinated remedy order. FCA US is accelerating its timetable to better serve its customers. Affected are certain vehicles within the following populations:

• 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen SUVs
• 2005-2012 Chrysler 300 sedans
• 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger coupes
• 2006-2012 Dodge Charger sedans
• 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota pickups
• 2004-2009 Dodge Durango SUVs
• 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum station wagons
• 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups
• 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500 pickups
• 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500 pickups
• 2007-2010 Dodge Ram/Ram 3500 cab chassis
• 2008-2010 Dodge Ram/Ram 4500/5500 cab chassis
• 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler SUVs
• 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider pickups
• 2008-2009 Sterling/Bullet 4500/5500 cab chassis

An estimated 933,000 additional vehicles are affected in Canada, Mexico and outside the NAFTA region. They include certain pickups, SUVs and sedans exclusive to particular markets.

All affected customers will be advised when they may schedule service. In keeping with NHTSA’s coordinated remedy order, vehicles currently or previously registered in areas identified with high absolute humidity will be targeted first. These areas comprise:

• Alabama
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Puerto Rico
• American Somoa
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Citing exhaustive research, NHTSA has said the subject inflators “do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety under the Safety Act until they reach a certain level of propellant degradation.” Such degradation is “a function of time, temperature cycling and environmental moisture.”

Customers with questions may call the FCA US Customer Care Center at 1-800-853-1403.