2001 Dodge RAM 1500 Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Feb 13, 2026 · 84 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bags deploy” (14% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Air bags deploy: mentioned in 12 of 84 complaints (14%)
  • Sharp edges: mentioned in 5 of 84 complaints (6%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 54 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles1 · 2%
10k–25k miles3 · 6%
25k–50k miles14 · 26%
50k–75k miles5 · 9%
75k–100k miles12 · 22%
100k–150k miles16 · 30%
150k+ miles3 · 6%

How serious are the reports?

Of 84 complaints, 42 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 29 an injury.

Dodge RAM 1500 air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2003, with 458 complaints
1995: 111995111996: 10101997: 241997241998: 63631999: 611999612000: 41412001: 842001842002: 46462003: 45820034582004: 3683682005: 37420053742006: 1931932007: 16920071692008: 1651652009: 342009342010: 14142011: 132011132012: 8080

n = 2,208 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2012 RAM 15008011%60,000
2011 RAM 1500132%75,557
2010 RAM 1500143%65,000
2009 RAM 1500345%74,000
2008 RAM 150016530%69,000
2007 RAM 150016933%89,000
2006 RAM 150019324%80,000
2005 RAM 150037432%89,500
2004 RAM 150036833%101,500
2003 RAM 150045839%112,500
2002 RAM 1500466%70,000
2001 RAM 1500848%80,000
2000 RAM 1500418%77,000
1999 RAM 15006110%99,000
1998 RAM 15006312%105,000
1997 RAM 1500247%97,945
1996 RAM 1500103%129,500
1995 RAM 1500115%—

When owners reported it

Peak: 2003, with 11 complaints
2001: 7200172002: 552003: 112003112004: 992005: 4200542006: 552007: 5200752008: 552009: 3200932010: 662011: 4201142012: 222013: 4201342014: 222015: 6201562016: 112018: 2201822019: 112023: 1202312024: 11

n = 84 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Air bagsMay 8, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V153000 · 216,100 vehicles

Problem: 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. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th vin position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.

Risk: When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.

Fix: 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, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

Passenger side airbag exploded while sitting in my yard.

Received Mar 28, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11579853

2001 Dodge Ram Dashboard is an extreme safety hazard due to the cracking. I have owned this vehicle for 12 years and it's been garaged kept for 8 years. The dash started with a crack and then a hole was created when hitting a bump. Then I had a mechanic work on the heater, and the dash basically…

Received Jan 8, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11500666

I'm worried that the air bag on passenger side is defective as the strangest noise is coming from behind the dash like a rubber band is tightening and then clicking on and off. Doesn't happen all the time. I've also had my truck in for the steering before and it has never been right. Now the hood…

Received Jan 14, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11169946

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2001 Dodge RAM 1500s have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 84 owner complaints about air bags for the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 (8% of the 1,112 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 air bags?

Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 80,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500?

The most frequent phrase is “air bags deploy”, in 12 of 84 complaints, followed by “sharp edges” (5).

Other 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 problems

See all 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 problems or air bags problems across all RAM 1500 years.