Customers with unrepaired 2003 Dodge Ram pickups are being urged by manufacturer Stellantis to stop driving them immediately until they are serviced, following a crash death linked to the Takata air bag inflator recall.
The death is the first one related to an exploding passenger-side inflator and brings the total number of U.S. fatalities connected to Takata air bag explosions to 26, involving numerous automakers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A person who was in the front passenger seat, who was also the owner of one of the trucks, died of injuries in a May 13 crash “consistent with those observed in previous Takata inflator fatalities,” according to a company news release.
More:Stellantis recalls more than 354,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees due to faulty coil springs
The company, which issued the release under its FCA US LLC operating arm, did not provide additional information about the crash and did not identify the victim.
NHTSA said age is a factor for anyone who continues to drive an unrepaired vehicle under a Takata recall.
“The older a defective Takata air bag inflator gets, the more dangerous it becomes. Please, get your air bag replaced now for your sake, and for the sake of those who love you,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said in a news release. “Don’t put yourself or someone you love at risk of dying or being seriously injured because of a defective, recalled Takata air bag. These repairs are absolutely free and could save your life.”
Takata air-bag inflators contain chemical compounds that may deteriorate as they age, particularly if exposed to hot and humid climates, the company said in its release.
“Such conditions may cause these inflators to rupture on air-bag deployment, scattering razor-sharp debris capable of causing serious injury or death,” the release said.
More:General Motors recalls 688,000 SUVs for anchor bars that may prevent child seats being installed
The May incident is the first in…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply