March 22 (Reuters) - Chrysler is recalling nearly

286,000 vehicles in the United States over a manufacturing

defect that might cause the side curtain airbag inflators to

rupture, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) said on Friday.

The right and left side curtain airbag inflators may rupture

and cause sharp metal fragments to strike occupants, resulting

in injury or death, the US regulator said.

The recall would affect certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and

Chrysler 300 models.

Stellantis ( STLA )-owned Chrysler said certain vehicles

may have been equipped with side air bag inflatable curtain

inflators that had moisture introduced during supplier

manufacturing. This may lead to stress corrosion and potential

rupture.

These inflators do not use the same propellant or inflator

design as previously recalled Takata airbags, the automaker

said.

Stellantis ( STLA ) last year had warned 29,000 owners of 2003 Dodge

Ram pickups to immediately stop driving pending repairs after

one person was killed when a Takata airbag inflator exploded.