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2019 Dodge Charger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 82 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

120 reports
1,500 miles · Jan 28, 2020
Service Brakes

THE REAR BRAKE PADS DO NOT FIT CORRECTLY, THEY ARE UNDERSIZED. THERE IS A LARGE PORTION OF THE REAR ROTOR THAT IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE PAD. THIS IS CAUSING DAMAGE AND PREMATURE WEAR TO THE BRAKE ROTORS.

NHTSA ODI #11302682

1,100 miles · Jan 27, 2020
Service Brakes

I HAVE THE 2019 DODGE SCAT PACK, BASE MODEL, NO OPTIONS. IT COMES WITH THE 4-PISTON BREMBO CALIPERS ON THE REAR WHEELS. THE FACTORY BRAKE PAD ONLY CONTACTS A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE ROTOR. THIS IS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACE. THIS EASILY REDUCES BRAKING FORCE BY HALF; MUCH MORE WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY LOADED. T…

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I HAVE THE 2019 DODGE SCAT PACK, BASE MODEL, NO OPTIONS. IT COMES WITH THE 4-PISTON BREMBO CALIPERS ON THE REAR WHEELS. THE FACTORY BRAKE PAD ONLY CONTACTS A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE ROTOR. THIS IS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACE. THIS EASILY REDUCES BRAKING FORCE BY HALF; MUCH MORE WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY LOADED. THE PADS DO NOT LOOK DAMAGED, JUST AN OBVIOUS DEFECT (SEE PICTURES COMPARED TO REPLACEMENT PAD). OTHER DODGE SCAT PACKS REPORT SIMILAR DEFECTS. I CONTACTED BREMBO BACK IN DECEMBER, AND AFTER MULTIPLE CONTACTS, NOTHING TO THIS DAY (EVEN THOUGH INITIALLY THEY SAID THEY'D CONTACT ME BACK IN A FEW DAYS SINCE THIS LOOKED UNUSUAL). I CONTACTED FCA, AND THEY HAD NO CLUE ABOUT THIS, SO I VISITED MY LOCAL PALMEN DODGE, RACINE, WI. THE PARTS MANAGER SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE EITHER. WHEN WE LOOKED UP REPLACEMENT PADS, THEY WERE "NORMAL" LOOKING, LIKE THE ONE NEXT TO THE STOCK PAD THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WEARING A WIDE GROOVE IN THE ROTOR, WHICH WILL THEN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT I'D HAVE TO BUY IT MYSELF SINCE WEAR ITEMS ARE NOT COVERED. I HAVE CHANGED THIS PAD TYPE MANY TIMES, SINCE 2009, AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A PAD CUT BACK LIKE THIS. I AM WORRIED THAT IF I HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY, I WILL NOT GET FULL BRAKING IN THE REAR SINCE THE PADS ARE ONLY COVERING PART OF IT. SECONDLY, I WILL HAVE TO BUY TWO NEW REAR ROTORS, AND PADS, TO GET THE FULL STOPPING POWER THAT THE MANUFACTURER INTENDED. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI #11302276

1,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SEALER WAS CRACKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (DUPAGE CDJR LOCATED AT 433 E N AVE, GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139) FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SEALER WAS CRACKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (DUPAGE CDJR LOCATED AT 433 E N AVE, GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139) FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AT 5 OTHER UNKNOWN DODGE DEALERS AND WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL DETAILS WERE MANIPULATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #11298457

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2019 DODGE CHARGER SXT ARE TERRIBLE. AT NIGHT WHILE THEY ARE ON DIM THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT AND THE IIHS RATING IS POOR. I'VE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY ADJUSTED THEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT AND I HAD 1000% BETTER LIGHTS ON MY CIVIC I TRADED IN. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE A…

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THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2019 DODGE CHARGER SXT ARE TERRIBLE. AT NIGHT WHILE THEY ARE ON DIM THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT AND THE IIHS RATING IS POOR. I'VE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY ADJUSTED THEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT AND I HAD 1000% BETTER LIGHTS ON MY CIVIC I TRADED IN. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS POOR RATING. IT THIS REASON I'M AM IN TALKS ABOUT TRYING TO RETURN THE CAR IF THIS CANNOT BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11269572

1,040 miles · Sep 1, 2019
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED ITSELF. THERE WAS NO LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AN THE PARKING BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED AN DISENGAGED TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SPEEDS WERE SLOW. CITY ROAD. POSSIBLY DANGEROUS IF AT A FASTER SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11252691

1,500 miles · Aug 28, 2019
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND WAS DETECTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TAYLOR CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1497 IL-50, BOURBONNAIS, IL 60914, (815) 935-7900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MUFFLER WAS FRACTURED ON THE DRI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND WAS DETECTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TAYLOR CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1497 IL-50, BOURBONNAIS, IL 60914, (815) 935-7900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MUFFLER WAS FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID OCTOBER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.

NHTSA ODI #11251946

4,370 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Unknown Or OtherWheels

MY CAR IS SHAKING OVER 60 MPH AND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING IT'S MAKING A NOISE . THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO FIX IT THE SAME DAY . THEY SAID IF I DROP IT OFF TODAY IT WILL TAKE 3-5 DAYS . SO I ASKED FOR A LOANER AND THEY SAID NO . AND THE NEXT SAME DAY SERVICE I CAN GET IS AUG 17 . WHICH IS 8 DAYS FROM TODAY .

NHTSA ODI #11242751

3,161 miles · Jul 9, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON HER, CAUSING HER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH. THE PEOPLE AT DODGE HEADQUARTERS WOULD NOT TALK TO ME IN REGARDS TO THE CRASH DATA REPORT, BUT THEY SENT A LETTER SAYING THEY WERE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. *BF THE DRIVER'S LIP (CONTUSION) AND …

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MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON HER, CAUSING HER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH. THE PEOPLE AT DODGE HEADQUARTERS WOULD NOT TALK TO ME IN REGARDS TO THE CRASH DATA REPORT, BUT THEY SENT A LETTER SAYING THEY WERE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. *BF THE DRIVER'S LIP (CONTUSION) AND ARM (BURN) WERE INJURED DURING THE CRASH. *DSY*JB *DT *DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE ACCIDENT REPORT. *TR*DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB *AS *DT *TR *AS*JB

NHTSA ODI #11230535

830 miles · Apr 18, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE CHARGER FORCEFULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH IT CAN DO BECAUSE IT HAS FORWARD COLLISION CONTROL, HOWEVER I WAS MOVING 40 MPH WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. NO PEDS. NO CARS. NO ANIMALS. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT IMMEDIATELY BRAKED, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FLEW INTO T…

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THE CHARGER FORCEFULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH IT CAN DO BECAUSE IT HAS FORWARD COLLISION CONTROL, HOWEVER I WAS MOVING 40 MPH WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. NO PEDS. NO CARS. NO ANIMALS. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT IMMEDIATELY BRAKED, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FLEW INTO THE SEATBELT AND THE CARS BEHIND ME SKIDDED NEARLY INTO MY CAR, HONKING ANGRILY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11197225

600 miles · Apr 16, 2019
Steering

WE'VE PURCHASED 15 PURSUIT RATED CHARGERS THIS YEAR. OUT OF THE 15 WE HAVE FOUND 2 SO FAR WITH STEERING FAILURES. ONE FAILURE WAS DURING IDLING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE OTHER AFTER A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS.*DT CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLES WITH THESE 2 VINS[XXX] …

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WE'VE PURCHASED 15 PURSUIT RATED CHARGERS THIS YEAR. OUT OF THE 15 WE HAVE FOUND 2 SO FAR WITH STEERING FAILURES. ONE FAILURE WAS DURING IDLING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE OTHER AFTER A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS.*DT CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLES WITH THESE 2 VINS[XXX] AND [XXX]. THE VIN PROVIDED HAS NO DISPLAYABLE RECORDS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *DT VEHICLE TAKEN TO SERVICE DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11196680

Official recalls

5

24V198000 · Air Bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

Mar 14, 2024

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 20, 2025. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 19B.

20V512000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Aug 27, 2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles equipped with a "stealth mode." When stealth mode is selected, the backup camera rearview image will not display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The lack of a back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update body control module software to disable stealth mode when the vehicle is shifted into "Reverse", free of charge. The recall began October 22, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W62.

19V758000 · Service Brakes; Tires; Wheels

Oct 24, 2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Service Brakes

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.

Consequence: A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.

Wheels

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.

Consequence: A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.

Tires

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.

Consequence: A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.

19V246000 · Air Bags

Mar 28, 2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Charger vehicles. The driver and passenger sun visors may lack the required air bag warning information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to provide the air bag warning information increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger sun visors, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V35.

19V203000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Mar 14, 2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V32.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.