Urgent ‘Do Not Drive’ Warning Issued For Cars With Unrepaired Airbags

Stellantis has issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” warning for approximately 225,000 older vehicles in the United States that still have unrepaired Takata airbag inflators, which could potentially explode and cause serious injury or death.

The warning, issued on Wednesday (February 11), applies to various models from 2003 through 2016 that haven’t received the necessary repairs, including Dodge Ram, Durango, Dakota, Magnum and Challenger, Chrysler Aspen and 300, Jeep Wrangler, and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles.

“This action is intended to accelerate the repair of the remaining affected vehicles to safeguard owners, their families and the general public from the risk of serious injury or death,” Stellantis said in a statement.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that 28 deaths in the United States have been linked to defective Takata airbag inflators. The agency warns that even minor crashes can cause these air bags to explode, potentially resulting in fatal or life-altering injuries.

Stellantis has already completed recall repairs on more than 6.6 million vehicles, representing about 95% of those recalled over a decade ago. This new directive focuses on the remaining 5% of vehicles that still need repairs.

The Takata airbag recall is the largest in U.S. automotive history, affecting approximately 67 million vehicles in the United States and over 100 million worldwide. The defect has been attributed to propellant that can break down after long-term exposure to temperature fluctuations and humidity.

This isn’t the first time Stellantis has issued such a warning. In November 2022, the company urged owners of 276,000 older U.S. vehicles to immediately stop driving until they got the inflators replaced.

Honda Motor Co. has confirmed 20 U.S. deaths in its Honda and Acura vehicles due to Takata airbag problems.

Vehicle owners can check if their car is affected by visiting nhtsa.gov/recalls or contacting their local dealership. Repairs are free of charge and should be scheduled immediately.