Chrysler Recalling 299,718 Minivans to Fix Airbags

Chrysler Group LLC says it is recalling Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 model year to replace part of the airbag system called the occupant restraint control module or ORC.

The recall includes 299,718 vehicles. Most of the vans were sold in the U.S., but Chrysler says there are also 50,251 vehicles in Canada, 3,748 in Mexico, and 13,633 export models, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The car maker says the ORC modules may have been exposed to moisture that could eventually result in the illumination of the airbag warning light. The problem could also cause airbags to deploy unexpectedly. In a document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler said the affected vans were built from June 24, 2007, through July 30, 2008.

The company recalled the same group of vehicles in January to replace drain grommet for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The grommet had the potential to allow moisture into the leak into the area around the ORC module.

Chrysler says its engineers have since determined that the printed circuit board in the modules that were previously exposed to moisture could still delaminate over time, leading to dysfunctional airbags. The company says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem in vehicles that were serviced under the prior recall.

Chrysler will begin notifying customers about the recall in September and dealers will replace the ORC modules free of charge.