(New York) More than 330,000 Stellantis vehicles are being recalled in the United States over a sensor problem that could prevent an airbag from deploying properly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Wednesday.
“A sensor in a seat belt buckle may have been improperly connected, preventing the front seat airbag from deploying as intended” during a crash, the agency said, adding that dealers will make the necessary repair free of charge.
The recall, which affects exactly 332,000 vehicles, concerns the Alfa Romeo Giulia (models 2017-2024) and Stelvio (2018-2025), Fiat 500e (2024) and 500X (2019-2023) and Jeep Renegade (2019-2023).
It is this latter model which represents the largest number of vehicles likely to be affected (209,002), ahead of the two Alfa Romeos.
Stellantis, born from the merger in January 2021 of French manufacturers Peugeot-Citroën (PSA) and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler (FCA), specified that the problem came from a wiring connector which could be defective.
“Drivers may notice that their airbag warning light remains on after starting the vehicle or that the seat belt warning sound remains activated even when the seat belt is buckled,” the group detailed in a statement sent to AFP.
He added that nearly 8,400 vehicles in Canada and more than 760 in Mexico would also be recalled.
In a document sent to the NHTSA, FCA – a subsidiary of Stellantis in the United States – explained that the solution required the installation of a part that does not currently exist.
Therefore, owners of vehicles with the defect should only be able to have them repaired from the third quarter.