Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 | 4% | 105,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% | 123,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% | 150,000 miles |
| 2009 | 12 | 11% | 68,000 miles |
| 2008 | 18 | 10% | 75,000 miles |
| 2007 | 36 | 17% | 32,000 miles |
| 2006 | 33 | 13% | 135,000 miles |
| 2005 | 33 | 17% | 119,000 miles |
| 2004 | 43 | 20% | 130,000 miles |
| 2003 | 80 | 28% | 105,000 miles |
| 2002 | 4 | 9% | 17,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% | 136,000 miles |
| 2000 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 1999 | 5 | 5% | 196,000 miles |
| 1998 | 9 | 9% | 92,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 3% | 198,000 miles |
| 1996 | 2 | 2% | 200,000 miles |
| 1995 | 2 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2 days ago my vehicle was in a wreck. A car T-bone the truck on the passenger side, causing the axle to break and the wheel to deflate. The airbag did not deploy during this accident, even though the car was rammed into a pole. Causing Slight injury to the driver.
This truck has had to have several high temp burnoffs because of failures in the EGR and Carbon build up. The recent recall for Rams does not cover the 2012, and began at 2013, however, we are experiencing the same exact issues with the same type of system. In addition, we have had repeated airbag issues due to the positioning of the cockspring and wiring getting choked out.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V947000 (Air Bags). The contact called a dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Ram 1500. The contact stated while sitting in the parking lot in the vehicle, the airbags independently deployed with no warning. The contact took the vehicle to (autonation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Fiat johnson city, 3700 bristol hwy, johnson city, tn 37601) where the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. Consumer stated due to the explosion May have resulted in some hearing loss and continuous noise in the head of the consumer. Insurance company declared vehicle totaled.
I was e/b hwy 26 around manning, or at approximately 50-55 MPH (posted 55). As I was passing a fruit stand on my right, I heard a loud bang and the vehicle jerked to the right jumped the curb and I veered to the right to avoid the steel guard rail and drove into a drop off about 20 feet below the roadway and struck a pile of 4-6" logs in tall grass. None of the airbags deployed during the collision.
Our son was driving a 2009 Dodge at approximately 60 MPH. He hit a vehicle that pulled in front of him with the front end of the Dodge. It continued to travel into a guardrail then flipped over on its top. During this accident the airbags did not deploy. Praise god our son was not injured during this. Shouldn't the airbags have deployed during this??????
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid a crash. The vehicle drove off the shoulder, tumbled down a hill, and crashed into trees. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Meanwhile, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V313000 (air bags) and 16V352000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 128,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While stopped, the contact's vehicle was struck head on by another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and front seat passenger sustained injuries to the head, concussions, and lacerations to the face that required medical attention. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V313000 (air bags). The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent salvage facility. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Related recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured January 17, 2007, to December 18, 2008, and 2010 RAM 3500 cab chassis manufactured September 25, 2009, to February 1, 2010.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Air bags › Frontal
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2011, to October 7, 2014, and equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, repair as necessary, and secure the steering wheel wiring harness. Additionally, protective caps will be added to the air bag retainer spring ends.
Show 4 more 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.
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.
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
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…
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Ram 3500 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (80), 2004 (43), 2007 (36), 2005 (33) and 2006 (33) model years. Airbag complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Dodge Ram 3500 airbag problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 19V-018 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2019); 18V-021 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2018); 16V-947 (inflator module, Dec 22, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Ram 3500 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles; 22% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (26 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (3).
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.