Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09E001000 (Steering), 13V528000 (Steering) and 15V312000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a deer and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also mentioned that there was second crash where the vehicle was t-boned on the driver's side and the air bags failed to deploy again. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V770000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
I was involved in an accident on May 3rd 2019 where I struck a vehicle that had just entered the two lane highway from the shoulder of the road and crossed in front of me. I hit her at 45 MPH resulting in heavy from end damage which I'm still waiting on the insurance company to decide if it will be repaired or totaled out. I'm fearing it's totaled. Anyway I'm contacting you because my airbags didn't deploy. I'm in no manner an automotive engineer so I can't explain why thy didn't deploy I'm just wanting you to know they didn't. The vehicle I hit was diagonal to me,
Takata ?- on 7/15/2017 my son was involved in a single vehicle accident as he drove home on the freeway. Lost control of vehicle resulting in the vehicle spinning and impacting a guard rail post , ejecting him from the vehicle on to the freeway where he died. Upon examination of vehicle no airbags in the cabin deployed. *
Vehicle was involved in a collision going 50 MPH on a highway and another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign at a cross road and we struck them with the front of the vehicle on their passenger door. Air bags did not deploy causing 2 of the passengers in the vehicle to hit their head/face on the dash and windshield.
Takata recall: this is the second recall I have received concerning the Takata recall. When the first one was done, my dash had 3 cracks that were due to excessive heat build up when eh windows were rolled up and the outside temperature was excessive. After r the recall was completed the dash had 11 cracks, which I was willing to accept. Now I get another recall notice (r26/ NHTSA 15v-312). The dealer tells me, this will most likely result in more cracks in the dash, and they will not be responsible. I have contacted Dodge customer assistance and they told me that due to the fact that there were cracks already in the dash, they cannot repair or replace the dash when they perform this last recall. I am assuming to perform the current recall will result in more that 6 more cracks. I do not feel that 17-18 cracks in a hard plastic dash would be safe in the event of a wreck. …
Since I purchased this vehicle in 2012, the dash board has been so severely cracked that there are sharp edges exposed. The previous owner had a carpet dash cover on the dash. Directly above the passenger airbag the lip of the dash is cracked from the airbag all the way to the windshield. I am afraid of that cracked piece being projected by the airbag during an accident and injuring a passenger. All of the cracks are straight lines, most running front to back. This indicates that it was inferior plastic or manufacturing process that caused the plastic to crack this direction, or that the dash is not properly supported underneath. Plastic cracks from sun damage tend to be "spider web" type of cracks....updated 09/22/15 updated 12/11/2015
While driving at about 55 MPH, I hit a minor bump in the freeway and the truck started shaking violently,steering wheel shaking side to side. The only way it stopped was I had to reduce my speed to complete stop , the problem was I was towing a 16' trailer with a 4000 lb load on it, I was in front of a semi truck with a full load, it was a very scary and dangerous situation. . It happen again while driving at about 65 MPH on freeway next day without the trailer I hit a minor bump in the roadway and the truck started shaking violently. The only way it stopped was I had to reduce my speed and stop. I think this problem should be investigated as some one is going to get killed by this happening to them
Multiple breaks in the vent portion of the dash cover with missing pieces and the main dash component is completely cracked through on the passenger side. With the ventilation system on, pieces of plastic and deteriorated insulation blows freely in the cab of the truck. With the dash continuing to crack and break apart pieces of plastic have dropped below the dash and could potentially could expose and cause wiring problems with the electrical system. The cracked dash is a danger to the eyes of anyone riding in the vehicle with the ventilation system circulating condition air. I fear that the dash will act as shrapnel in the event of air bag deployment. ...updated 07/30/15
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train) and 15V312000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 08/17/16 the consumer stated the transmission failed at 2,500 miles. The ball joints and water pump failed and the windshield leaked. Updated 10/26/16.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured August 29, 2002, to July 25, 2003 to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 138 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500, 21% of the model year's 661 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-312 (inflator module, May 26, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.