Chrysler Airbag Defect Leads to Minivan Safety Repairs

February 2010

Chrysler has issued a statement asking more than 355,000 owners of the company's most popular minivans to take them to dealers in June to have airbag crash sensors replaced. The sensors can crack and fail in 2005-2006 Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, and Grand Caravan models.

The affected sensors control the speed and manner in which the vehicles' airbags are deployed. Water can enter the housing of cracked sensors, causing them to become inoperative while illuminating the airbag warning light.

This safety issue follows on the heels of a similar airbag-related recall initiated by Honda earlier this month, as well as a massive set of recalls by Toyota. Like Toyota, Chrysler has been hesitant to acknowledge this action as an official recall, despite the fact that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is labeling it as such.