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Problems · by component

2003 Dodge Ram 2500 air bags problems

138 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 cite air bags, 21% of all 661 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

All 2003 Ram 2500 problems
Complaints
138
21% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2023Steering, Air bagsODI 11532783
“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.*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11342161
“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,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2019Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11208050
“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. *BF * *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2018Air bags, Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesCrash reportedODI 11061233
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS). 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 CONTACT CALLED CABRAL CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (1145 W YOSEMITE AVE, MANTECA, CA 95337, PHONE NUMBER: (209) 823-1148) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2017Air bagsODI 11046383
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LITHIA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (6162 N BLACKSTONE AVE) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2017Air bagsODI 11044526

Showing 6 of 138 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

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. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Air bagsReported May 27, 2015NHTSA 15V312000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.