FaultScore

1996 Dodge RAM 2500 airbag problems

12 of the 365 complaints about the 1996 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 257,000 miles.

F

12

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 7 58.3%
AIR Bags 4 33.3%
Sensor/Control Module 1 8.3%

Airbags across every Dodge RAM 2500 year

1994 11 1.9%
1996 12 2.1%
1998 18 3.2%
1999 19 3.3%
2000 10 1.8%
2001 18 3.2%
2003 138 24.3%
2004 89 15.6%
2005 76 13.4%
2006 75 13.2%
2007 46 8.1%
2008 30 5.3%
2009 16 2.8%
2012 11 1.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 330,000 miles Lebanon, OR 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light suddenly activated, and moments later the front driver’s side air bag erroneously deployed. During the failure, the driver sustained various facial injuries and injuries to the nose. The contact also sustained an injury to the right arm which required medical attention. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 330,000.

NHTSA complaint #11527189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 291,000 miles Statesville, NC 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, ARM, JAW, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 291,000.

NHTSA complaint #10670912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 223,000 miles Placerville, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS STILL IN THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS AND LACERATIONS ON HIS FACE AND NECK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V023000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 223,000. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF UPDATED 03/31/08

NHTSA complaint #10218037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,345 miles Rushville, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE 2500 DIESEL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING AN AIR BAG MODULE. THIS PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,345. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT AND THAT HE SHOULD CALL THE LOCAL DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10185801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wharton, NJ

AIR BAGS

SYMPTOMS: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. A CASUAL SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE THREE SYMPTOMS OCCUR QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER/DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE RISK IS HAVING THE AIRBAG DISENGAGE, I.E. WILL NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR A NUMBER OF VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, THE PROBLEM IS THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MANY MORE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAFETY DEFECT. CHRYSLER CLAIMS A BAD INSTALLATION AT CERTAIN PLANTS, PROBLEM IS THE DEFECT OCCURS ON MANY MORE VEHICLES THEN RECALLED MADE AT OTHER PLANTS. COST IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. USER REPAIR IS NOT ADVISED SINCE THE AIRBAG MUST BE REMOVED.

NHTSA complaint #10159760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Spri, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

RECALL REPAIR (99V-023) COMPLETED CAUSING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUED HAVING PROBLEMS AND REPAIRED, AIR BAG BLEW UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Spri, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

RECALL REPAIR (99V-023) COMPLETED CAUSING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUED HAVING PROBLEMS AND REPAIRED, AIR BAG BLEW UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

JUST PULLED AWAY FROM GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT ALSO. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S ENGINE ROARED AFTER BEING HIT. TRAVELED 30FT & HIT TELEPHONE POLE. HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH THE POLE. THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS ONLY HIT SLIGHTLY.

NHTSA complaint #844329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG SYSTEM TRIGGERING MECHANISM UNDER SEAT WAS REPLACED AND NO COVER WAS INSTALLED DUE TO INTERFERENCE OF SEAT. STATED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANYTHING UNDER SEAT, OR AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY PREMATURELY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #836687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tyler, TX

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIRBAG IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, FRONT END DAMAGE ENOUGH TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #524091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grounds Mill, NJ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 45MPH, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #807838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring Lake, MI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE LEFT/RIGHT; ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, APPLIED BRAKES (ABS) HARD, BUT VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP; TURNED TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLE, INSTEAD HIT POLE, AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. HAVE INVOICES.

NHTSA complaint #806892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Dodge RAM 2500 problems

← Full 1996 Dodge RAM 2500 report