Chrysler is recalling a batch of Pacifica and Voyager minivans due to a problem with their side curtain airbags. The recall encompasses 178,246 vehicles spanning the 2022 through 2026 model years. NHTSA filings indicate that approximately 30 percent of the vehicles covered by the recall are expected to have the defective airbag units.
Documents submitted to NHTSA explain that the affected minivans may have been assembled with curtain airbags that cannot maintain adequate pressure when they deploy. Vehicles of similar description that aren't part of this action were either built outside the window of concern or were already addressed by one of two earlier recalls that dealt with the same underlying problem.
The defect is a safety concern: airbags that lose pressure prematurely may not properly restrain occupants during a crash, raising the risk of injury.
To fix the issue, Chrysler will replace the faulty airbag units with new ones that meet correct pressure-retention standards. The repair will involve replacing either the driver-side curtain airbag, the passenger-side curtain airbag, or both, depending on the individual vehicle.
Chrysler will begin informing dealers starting April 2. Letters to vehicle owners are scheduled to go out between May 14 and May 19. VINs associated with the recall will be searchable through the NHTSA recalls portal beginning April 2, allowing owners to verify whether their vehicle is included.
