Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has identified a software error in the airbag control module of certain 2017-2020 Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider vehicles. This issue can cause the airbags to deploy with excessive force during a crash, which poses a safety risk. As a result, these vehicles do not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for occupant crash protection, specifically FMVSS No. 208, which governs crash protection and performance requirements for automotive airbags.
The problem came to light in July 2024, when Mazda Motor Corporation, a partner in the development of these vehicles, notified Stellantis Europe S.p.A. about a potential issue with the airbag control module. Mazda discovered this error during the development of new airbag sensors for upcoming vehicle models. As part of the research and testing process for these sensors, engineers identified a misconfiguration in the calibration tool used to program airbag control modules.
This discovery prompted Mazda to take a closer look at the settings of airbag control modules in previous models, including the 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata. During extensive simulation tests, Mazda engineers uncovered a potential flaw in the collision detection sensitivity of the airbag system. This flaw could cause airbags in these models to deploy improperly, failing to meet the safety standards designed to protect passengers from serious injury. The main concern is that the system might trigger the deployment of the dual-stage front airbag rather than the single-stage deployment that is appropriate for certain types of collisions. This misconfiguration increases the risk of neck injuries during a frontal crash.
FMVSS No. 208 requires that vehicles meet specific performance standards related to neck injury prevention during a 26 km/h frontal impact. The dual-stage airbag deployment in the affected Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider vehicles increases the force of the airbag during deployment, potentially leading to a higher risk of neck injuries, which would prevent the vehicles from meeting these safety requirements.
The issue is not related to a defective part, but rather a design oversight in the programming of the airbag control module. The voltage specifications for the accelerometer, a key component of the system that detects a crash and triggers the airbags, were incorrectly set. This misconfiguration leads to improper airbag deployment, which could result in the failure to meet safety regulations.
To remedy this issue, Chrysler will reprogram the airbag control module in all affected vehicles with the correct specifications. This software update will ensure that the airbags deploy at the appropriate force in the event of a crash, reducing the risk of injury and bringing the vehicles into compliance with federal safety standards.
Chrysler plans to begin notifying vehicle owners about the recall on November 7, 2024. Once notified, owners will be instructed to bring their vehicles to authorized dealerships for the airbag control module to be reprogrammed at no cost. In the meantime, Chrysler has assigned the recall number A3B to this issue, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has assigned it the campaign number 24V-694.
