PSA...Why???
Is this still an issue? It’s not like the Takata airbag issue hasn’t been beaten to death over the last few years...
Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler and Dodge, has issued a “do not drive” notice for 225,000 late-model vehicles due to an airbag issue that could allow metal fragments to enter the vehicle, causing injuries.
The stop-drive directive was issued for 2003 to 2016 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles that contain Takata airbag inflators, Frank Matyok, a spokesperson for Stellantis, confirmed for USA TODAY on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
“Over time, the chemical propellant inside certain Takata inflators can degrade, particularly in hot and humid conditions, increasing the risk of rupture during airbag deployment and the potential for metal fragments to enter the vehicle cabin,” Matyok wrote in an email.
Full article, HERE from USA Today.
Here are the vehicles on the list-
2003 to 2016 Dodge Ram pickup trucks and Dodge Sprinter vans
2004 to 2009 Dodge Durango SUVs
2005 to 2012 Dodge Dakota pickup trucks
2005 to 2008 Dodge Magnum station wagons
2006 to 2015 Dodge Charger sedans
2008 to 2014 Dodge Challenger coupes
2007 to 2009 Chrysler Aspen SUVs
2007 to 2008 Chrysler Crossfire coupes
2005 to 2015 Chrysler 300 sedans
2007 to 2016 Jeep Wrangler SUVs
From what I could find, Takata ‘knew’ in the early 2000s there was an issue, and the first recalls began in 2008 and continued through 2013. So WHY was Stellantis still putting defective airbags in vehicles after 2008???
Somebody wanna ‘splain that to me???
I don’t know enough about dealerships, but I wonder if they bear any responsibility for selling a vehicle with a known issue?
Any experts out there please chime in!
And if you own a vehicle on this list, PLEASE get it checked!!!
Remember the start of Fight Club when the main character talks about the auto industry only initating a recall when the recall is cheaper than a class action lawsuit? Pepperage Farm remembers.
I'm certain that Takata changed their formula for the accelerant (aka: chemical explosive) but now there have been enough injuries from these life saving features to cross an arbitrary threshold that "We have to do something!". Litigation (when you're still alive to sue), Judges (who don't know how anything works), fear (you must stop driving it or it could KILL you!), dealers (why won't they buy our overpriced junk?), service departments (now that you're here, did you know your blinker fluid needs replacement? It's ONLY $1500 to fix it), regulations (if airbags aren't installed, you can't sell your vehicles here), the MSM (X% of ALL of this brand of car has airbags made by THIS company)...AD @#$ing ASTRA! You could also just unplug the airbag and drive your car (crumple zones, seat belts, etc.) Life IS risk after all. Something something freedom vs. security and who might deserve what.