The U.S. arm of automaker Stellantis has issued a "do not drive" warning to roughly 276,000 older model year vehicles that are subject to Takata airbag recalls.
Models included in the warning include 2005-10 Dodge Magnums, Chargers, Challengers and Chrysler 300s.
NHTSA is telling all vehicle owners to check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall. The warning comes after two such airbags exploded in two separate incidents involving 2010 Dodge Chargers, killing two people, the top auto safety regulator said. A third death is suspected, Stellantis said.
"Left unrepaired, recalled Takata airbags 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 Ann Carlson, NHTSA acting administrator, in a statement.
"The longer these particular vehicles remain unrepaired, the greater the risk of an airbag rupture, in event of a crash," Stellantis said in a statement.
A Stellantis Europe spokesman told Automotive News Europe on Friday that the "do not drive" warning to vehicles sold outside of the U.S. Certain Chrysler models were sold in Europe as Lancias in the 2010s, including the Chrysler 300 (as the Lancia Thema).
