Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact was informed that the vehicle had four notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V528000 (STEERING), 16V352000 (AIR BAGS), 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) and 09E001000 (STEERING). However, the parts to do the recall repairs for both air bags are not available. Two local dealers were contacted and confirmed that the recall parts were on back order and it was unknown how long it would take for them to be delivered. The recall part for the passenger side was the part that is on national back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V528000 (Steering) and 16V352000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact was unable to renew the registration with the unrepaired recall. The manufacturer was contacted by phone. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Both driver and passenger airbags did not deploy at impact! Vehicle is a total loss due to the outcome of the collision. Vehicle struck a barn and exited out of it until struck a massive tree which finally stopped the truck. The vehicle was in the taylor Jeep dealership for air bag recall and was told they checked it out and found that I needed a special sensor for the recall repair and I will be contacted. I'm assuming what ever the technicians did might not have connected the airbags correctly resulting in them not deploying.
Takata recall I received a recall notice on my 2004 Dodge 2500 pickup. The recall is dealing with the front passenger air bag. Apparently the airbag inflator "May rupture and result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death". I called the recall notification number so that I could be put onto a list, so that when the parts come in, I would be notified. I wouldn't have been too worried, except the last time they sent me a recall notice (May 2015) for the drivers airbag, I still had not received the notice that the parts were in. When I called, a person said that she could set up the first recall repair, but the arts weren't in and wouldn't be available until 2017. I set up the appointment. I am pissed off (not good for me). …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that when entering the vehicle and close the driver side front door, there was a loud noise of glass falling. The contact noticed the driver side rear window had shatter. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate mileage was 112,000. In addition, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V452000 (air bags) however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure. VIN tool confirms part not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09e001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 14V817000 (air bags); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel began to vibrate and a loud grinding noise emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the front driver and passenger side universal joint front axles were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for recall repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09e001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 15V313000 (air bags). However, the parts needed were not available. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the four wheel drive was engaged and the vehicle started to spin out of control. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact received a notification for an unknown recall regarding the air bags. The contact did not have the NHTSA campaign number available. Woodhouse Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat (2101 6th st, sioux city, ia 51101, [phone]) performed the recall repair, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the dealer wanted to charge him to have the vehicle repaired again. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 230,000.
Related recalls
Air bags
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S.
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…
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 2004 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 90 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, 15% of the model year's 582 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-770 (air bags, Dec 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.