2004 Dodge RAM 1500 Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 30, 2026 · 368 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 368 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 101,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (15% of reports).

What owners describe

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

  • Takata air bags: mentioned in 56 of 368 complaints (15%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 78 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles6 · 8%
10k–25k miles3 · 4%
25k–50k miles6 · 8%
50k–75k miles12 · 15%
75k–100k miles10 · 13%
100k–150k miles20 · 26%
150k+ miles21 · 27%

How serious are the reports?

Of 368 complaints, 48 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 34 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: 2015, with 182 complaints
2004: 320042005: 62006: 320062007: 52009: 220092010: 52011: 120112012: 42013: 120132014: 42015: 18220151822016: 1032017: 2220172018: 52019: 120192020: 22022: 120222023: 42024: 120242025: 12026: 122026

n = 368 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (3)

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveMay 24, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V352000 · 4,648,270 vehicles

Problem: 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 Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.

Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not driveMay 26, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V313000 · 4,077,169 vehicles

Problem: 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 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.

Air bagsDec 3, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V770000 · 250,896 vehicles

Problem: 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. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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. Virgin Islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all other vehicles, Chrysler notified owners and the recall began on February 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P40 Expanded. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall 16V-352. This recall superseded the passenger air bag portion of recall 14V-354.

What owners report

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

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available, even though the recall stated that parts were available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that…

Received Sep 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11768056

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V313000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available and were on backorder. The contact…

Received Sep 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766356

TAKATA RECALL PARTS DELAY - MANUFACTURER REPAIR FAILURE.I am filing this complaint because Chrysler/FCA and its authorized dealer network have failed to provide the necessary remedy parts for an active, critical safety recall within a reasonable timeframe.My 2004 Ram 1500 is subject to the urgent…

Received Aug 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11758959

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2004 Dodge RAM 1500s have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 368 owner complaints about air bags for the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 (33% of the 1,099 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 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 air bags?

Yes: 3 safety recalls 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 101,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500?

The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 56 of 368 complaints.

Other 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 problems

See all 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 problems or air bags problems across all RAM 1500 years.