The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·15V312000·Announced 2015-05-26

Dodge Ram Trucks Recalled for Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk

Chrysler is recalling 2003 Dodge Ram trucks because the passenger air bag inflator may rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious injury or death.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect could result in 'serious injury or death' due to metal fragments striking occupants, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating involving significant injury reports or potential for serious harm.

Plain-English summary

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling approximately 385,686 model year 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. These vehicles were manufactured between August 29, 2002, and July 25, 2003. The recall addresses a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator, which may produce excessive internal pressure and rupture upon deployment. This includes both original equipment and replacement air bags installed as service parts.

If a crash necessitates the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture, sending metal fragments into the vehicle cabin. This poses a risk of serious injury or death to occupants. Chrysler advises owners not to drive their vehicles until the recall repair is complete.

Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2016, and partially supersedes recall 14V770. Owners can contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
DODGE RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 1500
Brand
DODGE
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
Category
Vehicle — Passenger Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
385,686

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • RAM 3500
  • RAM 2500
  • RAM 1500

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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