FCA US Recalls 332,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbags

Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling 332,000 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles because a  seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front-seat air bag from deploying as intended. FCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall to replace the connector by directly wiring the sensor to the harness with a solder tube.

In the required filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FCA said “A disrupted connector on the buckle switch hall effect may affect the conduction on the connectors of the seat wiring and buckle which may cause the front seat air bag to not perform as expected during a crash.” The part in question was made by ZF Group in Italy as Molex part number 98817-1025.

Chronology

• On 9 November 2023, the European Reactivity process Acceleration for Customer Enthusiasm (“RACE”) organization within the Stellantis Europe Customer Experience (“CX”) department opened an investigation as a result of after sales reports related to customer complaints of the airbag light on.
• From November 2023, through June 2024, the Stellantis Europe CX organization reviewed supplier data, connector design and change history, and determined that affected vehicles may have been built with a suspect connector on the buckle hall effect sensor.
• On 7 February 2024, Stellantis Europe S.p.A CX organization opened a safety investigation related to the buckle switch hall effect sensor.
• As of 26 June 2024, Stellantis Europe S.p.A has identified 578 field reports in North America potentially related to this issue with dates of receipt ranging from 9 November 2023 to 26 June 2024 • As of 26 June 2024 Stellantis Europe S.p.A is not aware of any accidents or injuries potentially related to this issue for all markets.
• On 27 June 2024, Stellantis Europe S.p.A determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary safety recall of the affected vehicles.

Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 22 August 22, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US number for this recall is 82B. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 24V-510 or 24V510.