Stellantis Issues ‘Do Not Drive’ Order for Takata-Affected 2003 Dodge Ram Trucks

A traffic fatality involving a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 that occurred in May has been potentially linked to the ongoing Takata airbag inflator recall, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in the U.S. up to 26. During the collision, which caused the airbags to deploy, the owner of the vehicle incurred an injury similar to those observed in previous Takata-related fatalities. As a result, Stellantis has issued a “do not drive” order for these vehicles until the defective airbags have been replaced.

Related: More Takata Airbag News

Back in 2015, the automaker recalled more than 438,000 examples of 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks over the faulty airbag inflator. Owners were advised to visit their local dealer to replace the passenger frontal airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that around 84,000 of the recalled trucks remain unrepaired, putting occupants at serious risk of injury or death.

The vehicle involved in the May fatality brings the number of Stellantis vehicles in the Takata-related stop-drive campaign up to five. The others include model-year 2005-10 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Challengers, Chargers and Magnums. The automaker has made more than 210 million outreach attempts to owners, but an estimated 233,000 Chrysler and Dodge vehicles remain unrepaired.

Stellantis and NHTSA urge owners to check for recalls on their vehicle and contact their local dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible if their vehicle is included in the affected population. Owners may check for recalls on the NHTSA website using their vehicle identification number or the SaferCar app. They may also call Stellantis at 833-585-0144 or look up their VIN on the Mopar website.

More From Cars.com:

• NHTSA’s Latest Takata Recall Is the Largest Ever
• Takata Airbag Recall Ensnares Stellantis, ‘Do Not Drive’ Warning Issued for 276,000 Vehicles
• Feds Confirm Fourth Takata-Related Fatality of 2022
• Is Your Car Part of the Takata Airbag Recall?
• Recall Basics: Everything You Need to Know

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