2021 Dodge Durango Air Bag Fastener Recall (21V280)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 2,721 vehicles · Reported April 22, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 2,721 2021 Dodge Durango vehicles. The Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener may be loose or missing. A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V280 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V280000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y16 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 22, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2021 Dodge Durango |
| Units affected | 2,721 |
| Component | Air Bags > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Dodge Durango in recall 21V280?
The Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener may be loose or missing.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Durango vehicles. The Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener may be loose or missing.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Durango with recall 21V280?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Durango shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V280?
Recall 21V280 covers 2,721 vehicles: 2021 Dodge Durango.
NHTSA lists 2,721 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dodge | Durango |
What is the fix for the Durango air bag fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will tighten or replace the fastener, free of charge.
Dealers will tighten or replace the fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent on May 7, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y16.
When was recall 21V280 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V280 to NHTSA on April 22, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V280000. |
| May 7, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your Durango was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Durango is part of recall 21V280?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V280 is open on your Durango, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V280000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Durango owners do about recall 21V280?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V280000 applies to your Durango.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Dodge dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Durango owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 21V280 was reported on April 22, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after April 22, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 202 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Dodge Durango: 202 complaints in total, 11 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH downhill, the driver swerved to the left to avoid crashing into the vehicle ahead, and the vehicle struck a fire hydrant and then crashed into a pole, where the vehicle came to a stop.
2021 Dodge Durango owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11747956, filed July 2, 2026
Your vehicle's air bag warning light recently indicated the air bag system may not be working properly. The air bags in your vehicle might not inflate in a collision, or they could inflate without a collision if you do not get the required service. Have your vehicle checked at your dealership.
2021 Dodge Durango owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11413898, filed April 26, 2021
Your vehicle's air bag warning light recently indicated the air bag system may not be working properly. The air bags in your vehicle might not inflate in a collision, or they could inflate without a collision if you do not get the required service. Have your vehicle checked at your dealership.
2021 Dodge Durango owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11413900, filed April 26, 2021
Can recall 21V280 make my Durango a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V280000 does not automatically make your Durango a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Durango been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Dodge Durango recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V280
Did the recall 21V280 fix work?
Since recall 21V280 was reported on April 22, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V280000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Durango is part of recall 21V280000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V280000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Dodge. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.