2003 Dodge RAM 1500 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 458about this part
- Share
- 39%of 1,171 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 458 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500, 39% of the 1,171 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,500 miles. 35 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On august 1 2020, my 2 adult children and another passenger was in a crash and my truck flipped several times from front to back and all passengers were badly injured and not one of the air bags were deployed. The truck was hit from the passenger side causing the truck to air lift and flip.”
NHTSA complaint #11351079, filed 2020-08, 163,000 miles“Takata recall on passenger side air bag. After contacting the nearest dealer, they informed me the parts were not in stock. Called back several time between may 2015 and february 2016 and the parts are still not in stock. Looking for help with this situation. What is my next step. Nothing has happened with the air bag yet. Just trying to get the repairs done before something does.”
NHTSA complaint #10825726, filed 2016-02, 150,000 miles“I have had several notices of the airbag recall r26 and am told the replacement bags are still not available 1 year after the notice. My local dealer keeps telling me to check back in a couple of months. I am afraid a passenger will be injured in the event of a deployment. I took my truck to the dealer today after being told that they had the replacement parts, but was turned away again.”
NHTSA complaint #10839846, filed 2016-03, 170,000 miles“I received 2 notices for air bag defects. And when I called the Dodge dealer they said only a few replacements were coming in every couple weeks and hundreds of vehicles to fix. The resale value of my vehicle has plummeted, and it is not safe to drive in this condition. So me the consumer is screwed over.”
NHTSA complaint #10736234, filed 2015-07, 47,852 miles“Takata recall. Contacted dealer to have the affected parts replaced. When I arrived they said they did not have the correct parts and could not tell me when they would have them. They said they would contact me when the parts came in. That was six months ago (aug. 20, 2015).”
NHTSA complaint #10821392, filed 2016-01, 120,000 milesRelated recalls
- 15V312000May 26, 2015DO NOT DRIVEChrysler (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…Covers: Dodge RAM 1500 2003, RAM 2500 2003, RAM 3500 2003
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 80 | 11% |
| 2011 | 13 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 3% |
| 2009 | 34 | 5% |
| 2008 | 165 | 30% |
| 2007 | 169 | 33% |
| 2006 | 193 | 24% |
| 2005 | 376 | 32% |
| 2004 | 368 | 33% |
| 2003 | 458 | 39% |
| 2002 | 46 | 6% |
| 2001 | 84 | 8% |
| 2000 | 41 | 8% |
| 1999 | 61 | 10% |
| 1998 | 63 | 12% |
| 1997 | 24 | 7% |
| 1996 | 10 | 3% |
| 1995 | 11 | 5% |
| 1994 | 7 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
237 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
125 complaintsBrakes
73 complaintsOther or unknown
67 complaintsElectrical system
62 complaintsSuspension
57 complaintsEngine cooling
56 complaintsSteering
44 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsEngine
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsWheels
19 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology