The 88, 346 number seems way off. There were only 41,422 Challengers built (7,262 in 2008 and 34,160 in 2009). The May 2015 recall for defective Takata air bags has been expanded to include 88,346 2008-2009 Challengers. I really try to stay away from the dealer. Guess I have no choice now. I think that while I am there, I will get my engine's cooling system flushed since it is now six years' old. Here is the Bloomberg Business report: "Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will recall 88,346 Dodge Challengers to fix a flaw with the driver-side frontal air bag, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall, posted on NHTSA’s website Saturday, affects 2008-2010 model year Challengers manufactured between September 2007 and October 2010, according to the NHTSA safety report. The announcement marks an expansion of the list the agency received from the company in May as part of nationwide recall to replace faulty air bags made by Japan’s Takata Corp. Inflators on the affected devices are subject to moisture intrusion, which could cause them to rupture and spray metal fragments on the driver, the report said. Chrysler will replace the frontal air bag inflators, which aren’t currently available, according to NHTSA. The Takata air bags are the subject of the largest auto-safety recall in U.S. history, linked to eight deaths and hundreds of injuries dating back more than a decade. On May 21, Chrysler authorized a recall for certain vehicles produced between 2004 and 2011. On July 6, a Chrysler audit showed that the 2008-2010 model year Dodge Challengers were “inadvertently excluded” from the earlier recall, prompting the new action. NHTSA head Mark Rosekind said on July 2 that Fiat Chrysler’s pattern of delayed recalls may prompt the agency to consider fines or force the carmaker to buy back defective vehicles."
If you want to be sure that your car has been recalled, type your VIN number into this website: Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) I did, and this is what I got: Year: 2009 Make: DODGE Model: CHALLENGER Number of Open Recalls: 1 NHTSA Recall Number: opens new window takes away from VIN lookup section> 15V-444 Recall Date: July 14, 2015 Manufacturer Recall Number: R37 SUMMARY: THE DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE, DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE, DURING NORMAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT EVENTS. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. SAFETY RISK: AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT EVENTS, COULD RESULT IN METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUSLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT(S). REMEDY: THE DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR MUST BE REPLACED. RECALL STATUS: Recall INCOMPLETE. Remedy not yet available MANUFACTURER NOTES: This recall data last refreshed: Jul 22, 2015 By the way, Motor Trend is reporting that the recall of driver and front passenger air bag inflators has expanded from 3.4 to 34 million cars. Due to the size of the recall and Takata's commitments to provide air bags for new cars, it has subcontracted out 70% of the replacement inflators to TRW Automotive, Autoliv and others. However, at least 400,000 of the replacements inflators might still be using the chemical igniter that is adversely affected by humidity. Half a million replacements have been confirmed safe, but the status of an additional 3 million is unknown. Takata plans to ship at least 1 million replacement inflators a month from its factories and contractors. At that rate, it will take more than two years to complete the recall barring any additional problems. What a screw-up!
