Wheelchair Passenger Safety Risk Prompts Recall of BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica Vans—Here’s What to DoIf you own a 2023–2026 BraunAbility-converted Chrysler Pacifica wheelchair van, NHTSA has a recall you need to act on. Campaign 26V296000 covers 1,571 vehicles and targets a defect that strikes at the core purpose of a mobility vehicle: keeping a wheelchair passenger secure while the vehicle is moving.The problem sits with the wheelchair restraint retractors. These components, supplied by Q’Straint – a sister company to BraunAbility – are designed to hold the wheelchair firmly in position during travel. Friction between internal parts can cause the auto-release mechanism to stick, which in turn prevents the retractor from locking at all.A retractor that won’t lock is effectively no retractor.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf the wheelchair isn’t secured, it can move unexpectedly during normal driving, sudden maneuvers, or a crash – all of which significantly raise the risk of injury to the occupant.BraunAbility says it was notified of the problem by Q’Straint on October 24, 2025, and immediately initiated its own recall process with NHTSA.Vehicles produced after that date were inspected to confirm no defective components were installed, and any suspect inventory still on hand was quarantined.What Owners Need to Do Right NowThe remedy is straightforward and at no cost to you. Braun will coordinate with Q’Straint to inspect the retractors and replace them where necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to go out by May 25, 2026, so if you haven’t received one yet, it’s coming shortly.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you want to get ahead of it, owners can reach Q’Straint’s customer service at 1-800-987-9987 or BraunAbility at 1-800-488-0359. The NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline is also available at 1-888-327-4236, or you can look up the recall directly at nhtsa.gov.The NHTSA campaign number to reference is 26V296000.In the meantime, if you’re transporting a wheelchair passenger, it’s worth manually verifying that the retractors are engaging and holding before each trip. A defective retractor may not show any obvious outward sign – that’s exactly what makes this kind of latent mechanical failure worth taking seriously rather than waiting on.These vehicles carry passengers who depend entirely on the securement system to stay safe. That’s a narrow margin for error, and a free dealer fix is a reasonable trade for the peace of mind.
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