FCA Recalls 1.9 Million Vehicles For Airbags After Three Fatalities

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recently announced a recall of more than 1.9 million vehicles because a mechanical glitch could prevent airbags from deploying in the event of a crash. Of that total, 1.4 million of them were sold in the United States, 225,000 in Canada, and 285,000 in Mexico. The vehicles involved in the recall include a mix of 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Lancia models. The issue is already linked to five injuries and three fatalities.

 

According to FCA, the problem is the result of a flawed "occupant restraint control module." The part is designed to work in concert with a wiring harness to determine if the vehicle is involved in a crash. If it malfunctions, the airbags may not deploy and the seat belt pretensioners could fail to retract. 

 

The vehicles involved in the recall include the:

• 2010 Chrysler Sebring
• 2010 to 2014 Chrysler 200
• 2010 to 2012 Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Jeep Patriot, and Jeep Compass
• 2012 to 2013 Lancia Flavia, which is a rebadged Chrysler 200

Newer models of these vehicles are not affected, as FCA no longer uses the same controllers and wiring harnesses. While the automaker has announced the recall, repairs are not ready to proceed.

 

"We’re finalizing the remedy and customers will be advised when they may schedule service," Fiat Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne told USA Today.

 

Mayne didn’t specify, but it is assumed that the recall repairs will simply be a replacement of the affected parts. FCA will be directly notifying the owners of affected vehicles about how to proceed.