2001 Dodge RAM 3500 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 8%of 130 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 133,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Dodge RAM 3500, 8% of the 130 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 133,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My dashboard is falling apart. There are pieces of plastic everywhere including right in front of the airbag, which would quite literally turn into flying death particles if the airbag ever went off, completely defeating the purpose of the airbag. This really should be a recall isue as it has quite a big impact on safety of the airbag system with brittle plastic shards flying everywhere. This didn't happen all at once, it's happened over the years, and I even keep a dash cover on it since the day I got it. The plastic is just simply poor quality, it's not from sun fading, or anything else.”
NHTSA complaint #11048142, filed 2017-11, 300,000 miles“Pieces of dash fell down under dash and caused the air bag to trigger. Put in a new passenger air bag and dash and 4 years latter all cracked up and a piece has caused a coolant leak in heater core under the dash. This is a major problem. I have a friend that the dash pieces cut wires and set it on fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10457619, filed 2012-05, 136,000 miles“2001 Dodge RAM 3500, dash board has completely cracked apart with large section cracked out. It began with a crack extending from the defroster vent and encompassed the whole dash in a matter of weeks. Dodge has refused to acknowledged the problem even though it is wide spread. This is a safety issue particularly if an air bag deployment happened the shards from this dash are like a razor.”
NHTSA complaint #10261768, filed 2009-03, 130,000 miles“Vehicle was involved in a head on collision while driving at 25 MPH. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. The seat belt restrained the driver so he only sustained minor bruises.”
NHTSA complaint #10062996, filed 2004-03, 15,000 miles“I try to replace the heater core on my 2001 Dodge RAM 3500 .and when the mechanic start to remove the dash board this start to falling in parts .so he try to put those parts back until he explain me what happen .I try to find an aftermarket dash and people on the store let me know .they believe it's a open recall for this failure dash on all models on ram .so I call to northwest Dodge on houston texas and they said the recall was several years ago ..for that reason they can't fixed .after a research on the internet I find this place to file a complaint.because for me it's dangerous have a…”
NHTSA complaint #10668547, filed 2014-12Related recalls
- 01V153000May 8, 2001Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup…Covers: Dodge RAM 3500 2000–2001, RAM 1997–2001, Dakota 1997–2000 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10176211Mar 23, 2020This SKU is a Clock Spring. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the internal spring. If the internal spring is not seated, the electrical…
- 10216457Mar 27, 201356045489A$ - Neutral Safety Switch - Trans Assy 06036369AA Screw and Washer is now available as a service part , 2 required to attach Neutral Start Switch
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 | 4% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 12 | 11% |
| 2008 | 18 | 10% |
| 2007 | 36 | 17% |
| 2006 | 33 | 13% |
| 2005 | 33 | 17% |
| 2004 | 43 | 20% |
| 2003 | 80 | 28% |
| 2002 | 4 | 9% |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% |
| 2000 | 2 | 3% |
| 1999 | 5 | 5% |
| 1998 | 9 | 9% |
| 1997 | 4 | 3% |
| 1996 | 2 | 2% |
| 1995 | 2 | 2% |
| 1994 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 Dodge RAM 3500
31 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsTires
9 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Dodge RAM 3500
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