More than a quarter-million Chrysler minivans were recalled after regulators found that their side curtain airbags might not remain fully inflated during a crash. Here is what owners need to know about the affected vehicles, the safety risk, and the free repair.
A minivan is supposed to carry children, groceries, sports equipment, camping gear, and at least one mysterious French fry hiding beneath the second-row seat. It is not supposed to carry uncertainty about whether its airbags will work correctly.
That is why Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, recalled 250,651 vehicles in the United States over a potential defect involving the side curtain airbags. The recall covers certain 2022 through 2025 Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Voyager minivans.
The affected airbags may have improperly sealed seams. During deployment, those seams could allow the bags to lose pressure faster than intended. A side curtain airbag that does not remain adequately inflated may provide less protection during certain side-impact or rollover crashes.
The issue is covered by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration campaign number 25V302. Chrysler’s internal recall numbers are 06C, 54C, and 55C, depending on which side curtain airbags require replacement.
Although the headline number is large, the recall does not mean every 2022–2025 Pacifica or Voyager contains a defective airbag. Vehicle owners should check their individual Vehicle Identification Number rather than relying on the model year alone.
Which Stellantis Vehicles Are Included in the Airbag Recall?
The Stellantis airbag recall involves two Chrysler minivan models:
- Certain 2022–2025 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles
- Certain 2022–2025 Chrysler Voyager vehicles
Of the 250,651 potentially affected vehicles, federal recall documents identify:
- 209,668 Chrysler Pacifica minivans
- 40,983 Chrysler Voyager minivans
The suspect Pacifica production period began on May 10, 2022, and continued through November 3, 2024. For the Voyager, the suspect production period began on May 17, 2022, and also ended on November 3, 2024.
Those dates describe manufacturing windows, not a simple consumer checklist. Two visually identical Pacificas built a few days apart may have different recall statuses because the vehicle population was identified using airbag traceability data and production records.
Why the VIN Matters More Than the Model Year
A recall announcement often sounds as though every vehicle from several model years is marching directly back to the dealership. In reality, recalls are usually tied to specific production runs, suppliers, components, plants, or manufacturing dates.
The most reliable way to determine whether a vehicle needs repair is to enter its 17-character VIN into the NHTSA or Mopar recall lookup system. The VIN is normally visible through the lower driver-side corner of the windshield. It also appears on the driver-side doorframe label, vehicle registration, title, and insurance documents.
Owners should check even if they have not received a letter. Used vehicles change hands, addresses change, mail gets misplaced, and envelopes marked “Important Safety Recall” occasionally end up beneath a pizza coupon.
What Is Wrong With the Side Curtain Airbags?
The problem involves the right and left side curtain airbags, which are mounted along the roofline. During certain crashes, these airbags deploy downward beside the windows to help protect the heads of occupants and reduce the risk of someone being partially or completely ejected.
Unlike the steering-wheel airbag, which inflates in front of the driver, a curtain airbag covers a long section of the vehicle’s side. This is particularly important in a three-row minivan because passengers may be seated across several rows.
According to the recall documents, some curtain airbags may have improperly sealed seams. Once the airbag deploys, those seams may not retain enough internal pressure for the required period of time.
Think of an inflatable camping mattress with a poorly sealed edge. It may inflate, but that is not much comfort if it becomes a pancake before midnight. Airbag performance is vastly more complicated and happens within milliseconds, but pressure retention remains essential.
The Airbag May Still Deploy
This defect does not necessarily mean the airbag will remain folded inside the roof during a collision. The concern is that it may deploy but fail to retain sufficient pressure, reducing its ability to provide the intended level of protection.
That distinction matters. A partially effective safety device can be difficult for an owner to detect because there may be no unusual sound, dashboard message, visible damage, or change in everyday driving.
There May Be No Advance Warning
The original NHTSA filing states that there is no warning associated with the condition. The van may start, drive, stop, and complete the school run normally. The defect may become relevant only if the curtain airbags are needed during a crash.
For that reason, owners should not assume that the absence of an airbag warning light proves their vehicle is unaffected. Recall eligibility must be confirmed through the VIN.
Why Insufficient Airbag Pressure Is a Serious Safety Risk
The recalled vehicles may fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 226, known as the ejection-mitigation standard. This standard establishes performance requirements intended to reduce the likelihood that occupants will be ejected through side windows during certain crashes.
A properly functioning curtain airbag acts as part of a coordinated safety system that also includes seat belts, vehicle structure, seats, sensors, and other restraints. It is not a soft pillow hanging beside the window. It must deploy at the correct time, reach the proper position, and maintain the pressure needed to perform its job.
If a curtain airbag loses pressure too quickly, it may provide less resistance between an occupant and an open or broken side window. That can increase the risk of partial or complete ejection, particularly during rollover events and severe side impacts.
Ejection is among the most dangerous possible outcomes of a crash. Seat belts remain the primary restraint and should be worn by every occupant on every trip, including quick drives that seem too short to justify reorganizing the entire family.
Was the Defect Connected to Any Reported Crashes?
When the original recall was announced, Stellantis said it was not aware of crashes or injuries related to the defect. That is reassuring, but it is not a reason to ignore the repair.
Safety recalls are frequently issued before a pattern of injuries develops. The purpose is prevention. Waiting for a defective component to prove its point during an actual collision would be an impressively bad maintenance strategy.
How Was the Faulty Airbag Problem Discovered?
The investigation did not begin with thousands of drivers reporting that their airbags felt a little underinflated. Airbags cannot be casually tested in the driveway unless the owner wants a repair bill, a ringing sound in both ears, and an unforgettable conversation with the insurance company.
Recall records show that Transport Canada notified FCA US in April 2023 that compliance testing was underway. Later that year, Canadian officials reported a potential noncompliance.
Follow-up testing in April 2024 again produced a noncompliant result involving a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. FCA US then analyzed the testing, examined components, worked with the supplier, and reviewed production and traceability records.
In September 2024, the automaker opened a formal investigation into certain 2022–2025 Pacifica and Voyager vehicles. By April 2025, the company had recognized that a supplier manufacturing issue could cause some curtain airbags to retain insufficient pressure.
FCA US determined on May 1, 2025, that a potential noncompliance existed in the affected vehicle population. The component manufacturer identified in the recall filing was Autoliv ASP, Inc.
This timeline illustrates why a recall may appear long after the first questionable test. Engineers must determine whether a failure is isolated, reproduce the condition, identify the relevant parts, trace those parts to individual vehicles, and establish a repair procedure. It is slow detective work, except the suspects are fabric seams and production records.
How Many Recalled Airbags May Actually Be Defective?
NHTSA documents list the estimated percentage of recalled vehicles containing the defect at approximately 14%. That would represent roughly 35,000 vehicles if the estimate proved accurate.
However, owners should not use that percentage to gamble on whether their van is one of the lucky ones. The recall population is intentionally broader than the number of components believed to be defective because manufacturers must capture vehicles that could contain suspect parts.
An inspection and replacement campaign is designed to separate affected components from acceptable ones. The dealership does the sorting. The owner’s job is to schedule the appointment, not conduct a statistical analysis while staring thoughtfully at the headliner.
What Is Stellantis Doing to Fix the Faulty Airbags?
Authorized Chrysler dealers will replace the affected side curtain airbags free of charge. The exact repair depends on the recall classification assigned to the vehicle:
- Vehicles under recall 06C may receive replacement airbags on both sides.
- Vehicles under recall 54C may require the driver-side curtain airbag to be replaced.
- Vehicles under recall 55C may require the passenger-side curtain airbag to be replaced.
The replacement components are designed to provide proper pressure retention. Owners should confirm the required work with an authorized dealership because the VIN-specific campaign determines which parts are needed.
Is the Recall Repair Free?
Yes. The inspection and required side curtain airbag replacement are provided without charge to the owner. A dealership should not require the customer to purchase an unrelated maintenance package to receive the recall remedy.
The recall repair is also separate from routine warranty coverage. A vehicle does not have to be within its original bumper-to-bumper warranty period for this particular safety recall repair to be completed at no cost.
Will the Dealer Replace Every Airbag in the Vehicle?
No. The recall concerns the side curtain airbags associated with the affected production population. It does not automatically require replacement of the steering-wheel airbag, dashboard airbag, seat-mounted airbags, or every inflatable component with an impressive name.
Depending on the VIN, one curtain airbag or both curtain airbags may require replacement.
Is This the Same as the Takata Airbag Recall?
No. The Stellantis recall involving 250,651 Pacifica and Voyager minivans is not the same defect as the long-running Takata airbag inflator crisis.
Takata recalls generally involve inflators that can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the passenger compartment. The Pacifica and Voyager recall covered here involves curtain airbags that may lose pressure because of improperly sealed seams.
Both issues involve airbags, but the failure mechanisms and affected vehicles are different. Owners should avoid assuming that an article about one airbag campaign applies to every Chrysler product ever manufactured.
Can Owners Continue Driving Their Pacifica or Voyager?
The original 25V302 recall did not include a broad “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” instruction. Owners were told to follow the directions in their recall notices and arrange the free repair.
That does not make the defect unimportant. It means regulators and the manufacturer did not issue the same immediate stop-driving instruction used for certain higher-risk defects.
Owners who are unsure how to proceed should contact an authorized Chrysler dealer and provide the VIN. The dealer can confirm whether the campaign is open, whether parts are available, and whether any updated instructions apply.
Anyone with an illuminated airbag warning light, crash damage, water intrusion, damaged roof trim, or another restraint-system concern should discuss those symptoms with a qualified technician. A warning light may be unrelated to this seam defect, but airbags are not a system where “probably fine” deserves a gold star.
How to Check and Complete the Stellantis Airbag Recall
1. Find the Vehicle Identification Number
Locate the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard, driver-side doorframe, registration, title, or insurance card. Copy it carefully. The letter “O” and number “0” are not interchangeable, and a mistyped character can make an affected vehicle appear recall-free.
2. Search the VIN in Official Recall Databases
Use the NHTSA recall lookup or the official Mopar recall search. A model-year search may provide general information, but a VIN search identifies open recalls assigned to the specific vehicle.
3. Call an Authorized Chrysler Dealer
Tell the service department that you are checking for an open side curtain airbag recall. Mention NHTSA campaign 25V302 or Chrysler recall numbers 06C, 54C, and 55C if they appear in your results.
4. Ask Whether Parts Are Available
Confirm that the correct airbag assembly has been ordered or is in stock before leaving the vehicle. Recall campaigns involving specialized safety components can require VIN-specific parts.
5. Ask How Long the Repair Will Take
Replacing a curtain airbag may require removal of interior trim and careful handling around the headliner. Repair times can vary with the vehicle, required components, technician availability, and dealership workload.
6. Keep the Repair Documentation
Save the completed repair order with the vehicle records. It can be useful when selling the minivan, transferring ownership, or confirming that the recall was closed in manufacturer databases.
7. Recheck the VIN Later
Related Pacifica and Voyager curtain-airbag campaigns were expanded after the original 2025 recall. A vehicle that did not appear in the earliest population may be covered by a later campaign.
Because recall investigations evolve as manufacturers review additional test results and supplier records, the current VIN lookup should always be treated as the final authority.
What Buyers of Used Pacifica and Voyager Minivans Should Know
Anyone shopping for a used Chrysler Pacifica or Voyager should check for outstanding recalls before completing the purchase. A seller may honestly believe all recalls were handled, particularly if a related campaign was added after the vehicle’s last dealership visit.
Ask for the VIN and review the official recall status. Also request service documentation showing completed safety campaigns. A clean-looking minivan, spotless maintenance history, and cupholders free of prehistoric apple juice do not confirm that its recalls are closed.
If an open recall appears, ask an authorized dealer whether the repair can be completed before the sale. In many cases, the repair is free regardless of whether the vehicle is owned by the original purchaser or a later buyer.
Owners selling an affected vehicle should disclose the open recall and provide the buyer with accurate information. Completing the repair first is usually the cleaner option for safety, paperwork, and buyer confidence.
The Owner Experience: A Realistic Recall Walkthrough
Imagine a Pacifica owner named Rachel receiving a recall letter on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday. She has two children, a weekly grocery routine, and a minivan schedule that looks less like transportation and more like regional air-traffic control.
The letter says the side curtain airbags may not retain enough pressure during deployment. Rachel immediately wonders whether the van is unsafe to drive, whether the airbags could suddenly explode, and whether the repair will cost the equivalent of a small kitchen renovation.
Her first useful step is not searching social media for a stranger typing in all capital letters. She finds the VIN through the windshield and enters it into the official recall lookup. The result confirms an open campaign.
Rachel calls the local Chrysler dealership and gives the service adviser the VIN. The adviser confirms that the vehicle requires replacement of one side curtain airbag. Because the required component is not currently in stock, the dealership orders it and schedules the appointment for the following week.
Before agreeing to the date, Rachel asks four practical questions: Is the repair free? How long will the vehicle be needed? Is a loaner available? Does the dealership have any updated driving restrictions?
The adviser confirms that the recall repair is free and that the campaign does not carry a general do-not-drive instruction. The dealership expects to keep the van for most of the day because technicians must remove interior trim, install the new curtain airbag, and reassemble everything correctly.
On appointment day, Rachel removes the car seats and clears the cargo area. That step may not always be required, but it gives the technicians room to work and prevents a collection of crackers, jackets, and soccer equipment from becoming part of the repair process.
At check-in, she asks the adviser to write the recall number on the service order. She also asks the dealership to contact her before performing any unrelated paid work. This prevents a free safety recall from turning into an unexpected conversation about filters, fluid treatments, and a cabin-freshening package with the emotional intensity of a luxury spa.
Later that afternoon, the dealership reports that the airbag replacement is complete. Rachel receives a repair order showing the recall campaign, work performed, parts installed, and a zero-dollar customer charge.
She stores the document with the vehicle records and checks the VIN again several weeks later. The manufacturer database eventually shows the recall as completed.
This composite scenario reflects the most common owner experience: surprise, a few anxious questions, a VIN check, a service appointment, and paperwork confirming the repair. Complications can occur when parts are delayed or dealerships are busy, but polite persistence usually works better than assuming the recall will fix itself through positive thinking.
The experience also offers several lessons. Verify the VIN instead of relying on headlines. Ask whether parts are physically available before arriving. Confirm that the work is free. Request written documentation. Finally, check the VIN again in the future because new safety campaigns can be added as investigations continue.
Conclusion: Treat the Recall as a Repair, Not a Reason to Panic
The recall of 250,651 Stellantis vehicles involves certain 2022–2025 Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager minivans equipped with side curtain airbags that may have improperly sealed seams. Those airbags may lose pressure too quickly during deployment, reducing occupant protection and increasing the risk of ejection or injury in certain crashes.
The most important point is simple: model year alone does not determine whether a minivan is affected. Owners should search the current VIN, contact an authorized Chrysler dealership, and complete every open safety recall.
The required side curtain airbag replacement is free. The original campaign did not carry a general do-not-drive order, but owners should follow the latest instructions associated with their VIN and schedule the repair promptly.
A recall notice is inconvenient, but it is also a functioning safety system outside the vehicle: testing identifies a defect, regulators document it, manufacturers provide a remedy, and owners finish the process by bringing the vehicle in. Nobody enjoys adding “airbag replacement” to the family calendar, but it beats discovering the problem during the one moment when the airbag truly matters.
