2003 Dodge RAM 1500 Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 458 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 112,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (27% of reports).
- 458air bags complaints
- 112,500median miles at failure
- 35mention a crash
- 30mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 14%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 125 of 458 complaints (27%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 94 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 458 complaints, 35 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 30 an injury.
Dodge RAM 1500 air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 80 | 11% | 60,000 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 13 | 2% | 75,557 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 14 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2009 RAM 1500 | 34 | 5% | 74,000 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 165 | 30% | 69,000 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 169 | 33% | 89,000 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 193 | 24% | 80,000 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 374 | 32% | 89,500 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 368 | 33% | 101,500 |
| 2003 RAM 1500 | 458 | 39% | 112,500 |
| 2002 RAM 1500 | 46 | 6% | 70,000 |
| 2001 RAM 1500 | 84 | 8% | 80,000 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 41 | 8% | 77,000 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 61 | 10% | 99,000 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 63 | 12% | 105,000 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 24 | 7% | 97,945 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 10 | 3% | 129,500 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 11 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerÂs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R26. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V770.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
brought my 2003 dodge ram 1500 to Romeo dodge to have a Passenger Airbag Recall Repair on [XXX] and I was called one hour later and told my airbag replacement was finished and I could pick up my truck. So i picked up my truck and drove it from Romeo dodge [XXX] to [XXX] where I live I parked the…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V312000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired; however, the contact was informed that the part to…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the driveshaft detached. Due to the failure, the gear oil and rear differential fluid leaked out of the vehicle. The contact was able to temporarily repair the driveshaft. The dealer and the manufacturer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Dodge RAM 1500s have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 458 owner complaints about air bags for the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 (39% of the 1,171 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 2003 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 112,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 125 of 458 complaints.
Other 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
See all 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 problems or air bags problems across all RAM 1500 years.