Urgent recall for 286,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans over faulty airbag that can explode and shoot sharp metal objects – is YOUR model affected?

Stellantis is recalling 286,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans in the U.S. because the side airbag inflators can explode with too much force and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers.

The recall covers airbag inflators on the driver and passenger sides of some Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 cars from model years 2018 through 2021.

Both are large sedans that share most of their engineering, but Stellatis, the parent company, says airbags are not found in any other car.

Moisture may have entered the inflators during manufacturing, which can cause corrosion and cracking, the company said.

The knock-on effect is that the airbags can inflate even without a collision due to the high temperatures in the passenger compartment.

This “can cause sharp metal fragments to strike occupants, causing injury or death,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Stellantis has seven warranty claims and customer support reports, but no injury reports, according to the documents. Most of the recalled vehicles are located in North America. Stellantis estimates that 1 percent of inflators are defective.

Dealers will replace both side airbag modules. Owners will be notified starting May 3. Stellantis said in a statement Friday that owners who are concerned about how their cars drive should contact the company.

He did not say whether loaner vehicles would be offered.

The inflators are manufactured by Joyson Safety Systems, a company that ended up acquiring troubled Japanese air bag maker Takata after it went bankrupt.

At least 26 people have been murdered in the United States. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide, including people in Malaysia and Australia.

In addition, around 400 people have been injured. The potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of automobile recalls in American history.

About 100 million Takata inflators have been recalled worldwide.

Stellantis said the latest airbag problems are not related to the problem with previously recalled Takata airbags.

In five cases investigated by the company, air bags inflated while vehicles were parked when the cabin temperature was above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).