Chrysler Side Curtain Airbag Recall Over Noncompliance Concerns Affects More Than 170,000 Vehicles: NHTSA

Announcement expands on a prior side curtain airbag recall, addressing a defect that may increase the risk of passengers being ejected from vehicles.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall impacting certain Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager vehicles that may contain defective side curtain airbags, which could increase the risk of injury during an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Chrysler airbag recall on March 30, warning that side curtain airbags in more than 170,000 affected vehicles may not maintain sufficient pressure during deployment.

Side curtain airbags are intended to shield occupants in side-impact crashes and rollovers by deploying from the roofline and covering the side windows, forming a protective barrier between passengers and the vehicle’s interior frame. This design helps reduce the likelihood of head and neck injuries and limits the chance of occupants being thrown from the vehicle.

However, if the airbags fail to maintain adequate pressure during a collision, they may not provide sufficient protection, increasing the risk that occupants could be partially or fully ejected through a side window and suffer serious or fatal injuries.

The recall affects 178,246 model year 2022 through 2026 Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager vehicles, which fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 226, “Ejection Mitigation.” The standard requires that headforms not move more than 100 millimeters past a specified point during crash testing.

While the NHTSA recall report does not identify any accidents or injuries linked to the issue, the action expands two prior recalls involving more than 250,000 Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager vehicles from model years 2022 through 2025, now extending the defect to include 2026 models.

FCA US LLC first identified the problem during supplier testing and production record reviews, leading to an initial recall announced on May 8, 2025. Subsequent testing on a 2025 Chrysler Pacifica confirmed that both left and right side curtain airbags failed to meet required excursion limits.

On July 31, 2025, FCA US’s Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance team opened a broader investigation into vehicles potentially equipped with defective airbags. Over the following months, the company worked with its supplier, engineering teams and quality control personnel to review data and determine the scope of the issue.

That investigation ultimately confirmed a supplier-related manufacturing defect affecting additional airbags, leading FCA to determine that all impacted vehicles failed to meet federal safety requirements. NHTSA formally announced the voluntary safety recall on March 30.

Owners of affected vehicles are expected to begin receiving notification letters on May 14, with instructions on how to obtain a free replacement of the side curtain airbags through authorized dealerships. Vehicles included in earlier recalls will also require the updated repair.

Chrysler has assigned recall numbers 06D, 10D and 11D. Owners with questions can contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403 or reach the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit www.nhtsa.gov for additional information.

Sign up for more safety and legal news that could affect you or your family.