Consumer Alert: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Issues “Do Not Drive” Warning; Automaker Reports More Fatalities and Injuries

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a “Do Not Drive” warning today for roughly 276,000 model year 2005 - 2010 Dodge Magnums, Chargers, and Challengers, as well as MY 2005-2010 Chrysler 300s. The warning comes after two people died in separate crashes involving 2010 Dodge Chargers where the Takata driver’s side air bags exploded. 

Additionally, NHTSA is aware of several other suspected inflator ruptures in vehicles from other automakers potentially due to exploding Takata air bags. 

NHTSA is urging ALL vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall. If it does, owners need to contact their dealership to schedule a FREE repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer. Dealerships will work with vehicle owners to arrange ways to get the vehicles in for the repair.   

“Left unrepaired, recalled Takata air bags are increasingly dangerous as the risk of an explosion rises as vehicles age. Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled airbag replaced, puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson. “An exploding Takata air bag can send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, and this shrapnel can kill – and has – killed or maimed people.”

Even minor crashes can result in exploding air bags that can kill or produce life-altering injuries.
Older model year vehicles, such as these 2010 sedans, put their occupants at higher risk as the age of the air bag is one of the contributing factors.

Vehicle owners who prefer talking to the manufacturer directly can call Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Takata Call Center Phone at: 833-585-0144 or go to the website. To find out Takata-specific information from other vehicle manufacturers, please check here. For more information on the Takata air bag safety recall, please check here.

How to Check for Recalls

• Use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool to check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any open safety recalls, including the urgent Takata recall.
• Download our SaferCar app and let it check automatically for you. 
• If your vehicle does have a safety recall, call your automaker’s local dealer to schedule the free recall repair. 
• Sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts to be notified by email if your vehicle is affected by a future recall. 

If you think your vehicle may have a safety defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA. Contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.