So you’ll want to hear this if you have a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or Ram — or know someone who does. Stellantis, the big automaker that produces these cars, is recalling more than 120,000 vehicles in the United States because of a headrest defect that may increase the chances of injury in an accident.
Let’s get it all sorted out in here so that you’ll understand what’s really going on, what’s going on with cars, and what you have to do if your car is involved.
What’s wrong with the headrests?
Here’s the deal: The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that some Stellantis vehicles are equipped with defective head restraints — those padded headrests at the back of your seat that cradle your head and neck during a crash.
The issue is that the headrests will not lock into place. And during an accident, that equates to the person sitting in that seat having a higher chance of facing serious injury. Something you don’t want to find out the hard way.
Read this later:
Which cars are being recalled?
Good question. Stellantis is recalling 121,398 vehicles in the United States. Below are the make and model years that are affected by this headrest defect:
- 2022 Dodge Durango
- 2022 Chrysler 300
- 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
- 2022 Ram 1500
- 2022 Ram 2500
- 2022 Ram 3500
If you own a 2022 model of any of the aforementioned, you will need to contact your dealer or look up your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) online with the NHTSA recall lookup tool to see if your vehicle is affected or not.
What is Stellantis doing to fix the problem?
Don’t worry — you won’t be charged for the repair. Stellantis will inform owners directly and repair the faulty headrest for free.
Dealerships will either replace the lock mechanism or reflash the part so it’s secure. The company wouldn’t tell us the exact date the notifications will be sent, but keep your mailbox or inbox ready if your car’s in the pipeline.
What can you do now?
This is what I’d suggest:
1. first thing you have to do is to Check your vehicle’s recall status.
Just use the [NHTSA recall lookup tool](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) — just type in your VIN.
2. This is important, Don’t wait for the recall.”.
Even if your vehicle is good, this is not something to delay. A worn headrest may not be a big deal — until it becomes a big deal.
3. Call your dealer.
If your vehicle is included, get it fixed. It’ll be fast, and, again, at no cost.
Is Stellantis stock affected?
You might be wondering whether or not this recall will have some effect on Stellantis stock—especially given the fact that you might’ve seen commercials or stock suggestions going around the internet. Several news outlets have been questioning whether or not an investor should buy Stellantis (trading as STLAM on the NYSE).
But come on — this recall doesn’t kill the company. Car manufacturers recall autos all the time. Being proactive about safety is actually a good thing in the long run. That being said, if you do want to invest, always good to dig deeper than the headlines. Speak with a financial advisor or do some detective work yourself.
Final thoughts
Recalls are frightening, but here is the good news: Stellantis found the issue and is fixing it. All you need to do is check to see if your vehicle is impacted and obtain the fix. That’s it.
And this is the thing—if your car is top-notch, maybe this is your wake-up call to finally go get that rattle you’ve been putting off in the backseat.
Stay safe out there!
