Chrysler recalls 300,000 minivans for airbags that could spontaneously deploy

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling 299,178 minivans for a potentially dangerous HVAC fault. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, certain 2008 Chrysler Grand Voyager, Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan models could have air conditioning systems that leak condensation onto the occupant restraint control module. This can cause the airbag light to illuminate and may eventually lead to the accidental deployment of the supplemental restraints. The vehicles in question were manufactured between June 24, 2007 and July 30, 2008, and NHTSA warns that an accidental airbag deployment could cause occupant injury or lead to a serious accident.

Chrysler dealers will replace the occupant restraint control module free of charge once the recall begins this month. At this point it's unclear whether any work will be done to the HVAC system to prevent condensation from causing the same issue in the future. Click past the jump for a look at the full recall notice. Owners may contact NHTSA or Chrysler for more information.

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Model Year(s):
2008 CHRYSLER / TOWN AND COUNTRY

2008 CHRYSLER / VOYAGER

2008 DODGE / GRAND CARAVAN

Manufacturer: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC

Mfr's Report Date: AUG 03, 2011

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V394000

NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE Potential Number of Units Affected: 299,718

Summary:
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER, TOWN AND COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 24, 2007, THROUGH JULY 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONER (HVAC) CONDENSATE LEAK FROM THE HVAC DRAIN GROMMET ONTO THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL (ORC) MODULE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND A POTENTIAL INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence:
AN INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN FRONT OF THE DEPLOYING AIRBAG AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Notes:
CHRYSLER SAFETY RECALL NO. L01. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .