FCA to Stop Using Non-Desiccated Takata Airbags in Jeep Wrangler
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will phase out non-desiccated Takata passenger-side airbags from the 2016 Jeep Wrangler in North America by late June 2016, with a global phase-out to follow by mid-September.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced it will stop fitting its vehicles with non-desiccated ammonium-nitrate Takata airbags, beginning with the 2016 Jeep Wrangler. The company said Wranglers for the North American market will no longer be equipped with these passenger-side inflators from late June 2016, with all other global markets to follow by mid-September.
The affected airbags use ammonium nitrate propellant without a desiccant, making them vulnerable to moisture absorption. Over time, exposure to humidity and temperature fluctuations can cause the inflators to rupture violently when deployed. This defect has been linked to multiple fatalities and injuries globally, prompting the largest automotive recall in history. FCA stated that it now uses alternate propellants in its latest airbag systems.
2016 Jeep Wrangler and Takata Airbags
The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is the only FCA model still fitted with these passenger-side Takata inflators. FCA confirmed that it is not aware of any failures involving the 2016 Wrangler’s passenger-side inflator. Testing of nearly 6,300 older Wrangler inflators showed no ruptures, according to the company.
The move to phase out these airbags comes as US regulators continue to expand recalls. In April 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered carmakers to recall up to 40 million additional Takata inflators in phases through December 2019. A US Senate Commerce Committee report in June 2016 identified FCA, Toyota, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi as still selling new cars with potentially defective inflators that would eventually require recall.
What the change means for buyers and owners
Buyers of new Jeep Wranglers in North America after late June 2016 will receive vehicles without the non-desiccated Takata inflators. FCA expects all regions to complete the transition by mid-September. The company has not announced any recall for existing 2016 Wranglers, but owners concerned about their vehicles can monitor official FCA communications and recall notices. The broader Takata airbag recall has affected millions of vehicles worldwide, including other manufacturers such as Honda and Nissan. For related recall coverage, seeRenault and Dacia recall nearly 78,000 cars over engine valve issue.
