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 2002 Dodge Ram owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Was in a car accident on Wednesday may 27,2026 . Crashed at a speed of about 51 if not more and NONE of the air bags deployed. I have spoken to my insurance and they said I needed to file a complaint or claim someway else for the airbags not deploying.
I was driving under 30 miles an hour in my 2002 Dodge Ram quad truck when something snapped under the front of the truck causing me to lose control of my vehicle resulting into crashing into a truck waiting to pull out into the street. The truck only had 17,000 miles and we only have had it 22 months, bought new. The steering arm was off at both ends, the wheel came off and all damage was on the inside of the wheel, the other wheel was turned straight. When accident happened the truck veered to the left out of control. The airbag never came out. Are there any reports of 2002 Dodge trucks having steering problems? Chrysler finally sent a person to look at the truck. Our insurance company is wanting to put after market parts on our new truck, which will limit our warranty with Chrysler since they're not Dodge parts. …
While traveling at 50 the right front tire slightly touched the gravel on an uneven parkway, and caused the driver to lose control of vehicle, the vehicle flipped and crashed. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The passenger was killed. When the tire left the road the consumer turned the wheel back to the left to get the vehicle back onto the road. The vehicle fishtailed in the rear and collided head on into the concrete culvert, flipped end over, and rolled upside down into a ditch. Neither air bag deployed. The consumer was told the size of the wheels should be redesigned due to the chassis. (the change of the center gravity caused the vehicle to be unstable)
While driving on gravel road oat 40-45 MPH vehicle hit a pot hole, causing it to hydroplane. Vehicle came down, and hit the front of the vehicle first and commenced to flip over a few times, landing on the passenger's side. Upon impact, neither of the frontal air bags deployed. Driver sustained major injuries, and was transported by ambulance to the local hospital.......
Involved in an collusion, air bags failed to deploy, impact area driver front to center of hood, speed over 40 MPH. Passenger sustained back and neck injury along with chest brusing from seatbelt. Spoke to Dodge dealer and comment was that sometimes the airbags will not go off if the impact does not energize miltipal sensors. Airbags in the other vehicle deployed.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 45 MPH. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. The entire front end of vehicle was severely damaged. Driver sustained shoulder, leg, angle and knee injuries, and was having headaches.
While traveling on wet road came upon high water and a vehicle spun out half on the shoulder, half in my lane. Applied the brakes which locked up. Slid into spun vehicle hitting head on at 40-45mph. Neither driver or passenger airbags deployed. Front end was heavily damaged.
While driving at approximately 35 MPH, vehicle went off the road and hit a tree stump. Front air bags did not deploy, and there was no indication before the crash that there was a problem with the air bags. Driver sustained minor bruises to the facial area.
I was on a back road doing 35 MPH I hit black ice and the back end went out. I had weight in the back of the truck but it didn't help. I let off the gas and the brake and tried to slowly correct the back end. It just made the situation worse. I knew I was going off the road. My truck took a nose dive into a six-foot ditch the back end came straight up and the roof hit a tree from then the truck spun on its nose fell onto its left side went up hit the roof again and finally stopped on the drivers side. I was knocked unconscious with the first hit after that I was completely scalped. Neither one of the air bags deployed. I only wonder if they did I May not have been scalped and suffered such traumatic head injuries. At this point I am just happy to be alive. The insurance company totaled out the truck undeployed air bags and all.
On 1/16/02 at 10:00 pm the 2002 Dodge Ram pickup that my wife was driving collided with a Jeep grand cherokee at a intersection. My wife was traveling at a speed approximately 55 to 60 MPH on us 13. The Jeep grand cherokee made a left turn infront of my wife at the intersection. The left front end corner of my wifes pickup truck struck the front end of the Jeep. My wifes truck then drifted to the right and went over the curve. The Jeep spunned around from the forceful impact. The front left corner of my wifes truck was destroyed,left front tire was twisted,left side of the engine was smashed in,left corner bumper was bent to the ground, front grill was destroyed,hood,roof,left door were all pushed in but none of the airbags deployed.
Airbag complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Dodge Ram, 8% of the model year's 353 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Ram airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Dodge Ram, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Ram airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 1 fire and 21 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.