(This March 22 article has been republished to replace SABIC with curtain side airbag in paragraph 4)
(Reuters) – Chrysler is recalling nearly 286,000 vehicles in the United States due to a manufacturing defect that could cause side curtain airbag inflators to rupture, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday.
The right and left side curtain airbags could rupture and sharp metal fragments could strike occupants, causing injury or death, US regulators said.
The recall affects certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models.
Stellantis-owned Chrysler said some vehicles may have been equipped with side airbag curtain inflators that became exposed to moisture during supplier production. This can lead to stress corrosion and potential rupture.
According to the automaker, these inflators do not use the same propellant or design as the previously recalled Takata airbags.
Stellantis (NYSE:) last year warned 29,000 owners of 2003 Dodge Ram pickup trucks to immediately stop driving while awaiting repairs after one person was killed when a Takata airbag exploded.