The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding a probe into Stellantis Dodge SUVs over reports of faulty door locks and windows that have been linked to one death, reports Reuters.
A preliminary evaluation into 82,000 2009 model year Dodge Journey SUVs first began in May 2023, after NHTSA received reports of a passenger becoming locked inside during a vehicle fire and dying in Dec. 2022.
As of this past Friday, the evaluation has been escalated to an engineering analysis of 992,000 Journey SUVs from model years 2009 through 2020. This is a necessary step before a recall can be pursued.
According to NHTSA, there have been a total of 19 incidents potentially related to the issue. One driver of a 2010 Dodge Journey in Oklahoma had experienced random electrical problems, including the doors unlocking, with the driver even being locked inside the vehicle at one point.
Another driver in Nashville reported being locked inside her 2018 Dodge Journey when neither her key fob nor window panel would work. She was forced to crawl out through the window to exit the vehicle.
“We extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of the customer whose life was lost, and we are providing NHTSA with our full cooperation,” said Stellantis in a statement.
