Stellantis recalls nearly 285,000 Dodge, Chrysler cars over potentially deadly airbag defect

Stellantis has recalled thousands of Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 cars because of a manufacturing defect that could cause  airbags to rupture unexpectedly, resulting in metal fragments flying out, potentially killing passengers.

Fiat Chrysler America (FCA) said in recall documents that it began investigating the inflator issue last month and found that some of the "affected vehicles may have had moisture introduced into the inflator." The moisture likely caused corrosion in the inflator, which could lead them to rupture, the company said. If the inflator does burst, compressed gas could rapidly release from the inflator with material potentially propelled throughout the car, the recall documents state. 

"An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated in a letter to Chrysler acknowledging the recall.