WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO ITS FULL EXTENT, THE TIRES BEGIN TO SCRAPE AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN.
2019 Dodge Challenger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2019 Dodge Challenger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 45.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Challenger years →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
24 reports with mileage · 35 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
59 reportsPURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW WITH 992 MILES PUT ON BY THE DEALERSHIP OWNER (THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD). DROVE THE CAR 8 HOURS, SPENT THE NIGHT IN HOTEL; LEFT THE NEXT MORNING AND AT ODOMETER 1626 GOING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE BLEW UP. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER BUT ALL THE ENGINE…
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PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW WITH 992 MILES PUT ON BY THE DEALERSHIP OWNER (THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD). DROVE THE CAR 8 HOURS, SPENT THE NIGHT IN HOTEL; LEFT THE NEXT MORNING AND AT ODOMETER 1626 GOING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE BLEW UP. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER BUT ALL THE ENGINE OIL HAD COVERED THE ROADWAY AND METAL PIECES. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW PART OF A CONNECTING ROD HANGING OUT OF THE OIL PAN.
STOCK, FACTORY BUILT, REAR BRAKE PAD SURFACE AREA IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE REAR ROTOR DIAMETER. SWEEP OF BRAKE PAD IS SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER THAN THE ROTOR. THIS IS CAUSING AN IMPROPER WEAR PATTERN ON ROTOR. REDUCES STOPPING FORCE AND WILL CREATE A RIDGE IN THE ROTOR. THIS RIDGE WILL MAKE FUTURE REPLACEMENT BRAKE …
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STOCK, FACTORY BUILT, REAR BRAKE PAD SURFACE AREA IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE REAR ROTOR DIAMETER. SWEEP OF BRAKE PAD IS SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER THAN THE ROTOR. THIS IS CAUSING AN IMPROPER WEAR PATTERN ON ROTOR. REDUCES STOPPING FORCE AND WILL CREATE A RIDGE IN THE ROTOR. THIS RIDGE WILL MAKE FUTURE REPLACEMENT BRAKE PADS INCOMPATIBLE, AND COULD AFFECT BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE NEGATIVELY.
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN CHANGING LANES AND WHILE MAKE A TURN. ON 1-11-2020 I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST DRIVE THIS CAR, BUT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE CODES. THE SALESMAN HAD …
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WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN CHANGING LANES AND WHILE MAKE A TURN. ON 1-11-2020 I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST DRIVE THIS CAR, BUT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE CODES. THE SALESMAN HAD ME TEST DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME SPECS SO THAT A TECH COULD LOOK AT THE CODES. THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. PURCHASED THE ORIGINAL CAR THAT HAD THE CODES ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON 1-11-2020, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ON WEDNESDAY, 1-15-2020 WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL TUESDAY, 1-21-2020 WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FROM 1-21-2020 UNTIL 1-25-2020. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WAS DUE TO A BAD BATTERY AND THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED IT. WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON 1-25-2020, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL 1-27-2020 WHEN IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR IS STILL THERE AS OF 1-29-2020 WITH NO UPDATE ON THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REVERSING HIS VEHICLE TO PARK, IT JOLTED BACKWARDS. THE SERVICE SHIFTER, SERVICE TRANSMISSION, SERVICE ENGINE, AND THE PARK CAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE GEARS WERE STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REVERSING HIS VEHICLE TO PARK, IT JOLTED BACKWARDS. THE SERVICE SHIFTER, SERVICE TRANSMISSION, SERVICE ENGINE, AND THE PARK CAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE GEARS WERE STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE DEALER BRAVO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF ALHAMBRA LOCATED AT 1100 W MAIN ST, ALHAMBRA, CA 91801 (626) 283-5212 REFUSED TO HELP TOW THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WITH ALL OF THE LIGHTS FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THREE DAYS LATER THEY FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TRACKING DEVICE. THE TRACKING DEVICE DESTROYED THE WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REMOVE THE TRACKER AND REPAIR THE WIRING. THE CONTACT HAD INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER AND HE WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND HE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED MILEAGE FOR OVER 100 MILES. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN DURING THE TEST DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM HAD TO BE FIXED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,750. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO ITS FULL EXTENT, THE TIRES BEGIN TO SCRAPE AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN.
I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND AS I TURNED TO MERGE MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE WHEEL. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AND IT SAID 'STEERING WHEEL MOTION OFF'
IF PARKED IN GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK IN THE GEAR IT WAS LEFT IN. IT ALSO HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEARS WHEN COLD. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN STAR CENTER CASE #K38556860 AND #S1021000004.
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 300 MILES. VEHICLE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. ENGAGED EMERGENCY FLASHER. AFTER SEVERAL EFFORTS TO START/STOP THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID FINALLY ENGAGE.…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 300 MILES. VEHICLE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. ENGAGED EMERGENCY FLASHER. AFTER SEVERAL EFFORTS TO START/STOP THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID FINALLY ENGAGE. THIS TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. STILL LEARY ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.
Official recalls
320V191000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Sep 10, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
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.
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
1EA21002 · 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.
Illustration