Transportation Regulation

Stellantis has told owners of about 225,000 U.S. vehicles equipped with unrepaired Takata air bags not to drive their cars until the inflators are replaced, in a 'do not drive' alert posted Wednesday via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The warning covers specific model‑year 2003–2016 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles (and the 2006–2009 Mitsubishi Raider) tied to multiple Takata recall campaigns, and comes amid what NHTSA calls the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history, involving 67 million defective air bags. Federal safety officials say at least 28 people in the U.S. have been killed and 400 injured by exploding Takata inflators, and caution that even minor crashes can cause the devices to rupture and send shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Owners are urged to check their VINs at NHTSA.gov/Recalls and to arrange free repairs before driving again.