2001 Dodge 1500 Airbags Problems

Passenger side airbag exploded while sitting in my yard.

NHTSA ID

11579853

Incident

Dec 21, 2023

2001 Dodge Ram Dashboard is an extreme safety hazard due to the cracking. I have owned this vehicle for 12 years and it's been garaged kept for 8 years. The dash started with a crack and then a hole was created when hitting a bump. Then I had a mechanic work on the heater, and the dash basically disintegrated when moving it. The holes on this dashboard are absurd. A review of safety information identified others who reported this problem to NHTSA and many more complaints on online message boards. This dashboard creates a safety issue for all personnel in the vehicle in case of an accident since projectiles (pieces of the dash that crumble) will fly. Also, there are other components under the dash that could create additional problems (ie-heater core spraying hot antifreeze after an accident). This is completely absurd. Keep in mind, my vehicle has less than 80K miles and the dash is getting worse.

NHTSA ID

11500666

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

I'M WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS DEFECTIVE AS THE STRANGEST NOISE IS COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH LIKE A RUBBER BAND IS TIGHTENING AND THEN CLICKING ON AND OFF. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I'VE ALSO HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR THE STEERING BEFORE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN RIGHT. NOW THE HOOD WILL NOT SHUT RIGHT. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A LEMON. I FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 36,000 MILES ON IT. I'M WONDERING WHAT RECALLS I'VE MISSED SO I'M CHECKING. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11169946

Incident

Dec 15, 2018

Mileage

35,000 mi

TAKATA INFLATOR. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE TRUCK IS RUNNING. AS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS CONCERN? I DON'T IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT IF I WHERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

11111419

Incident

Jul 15, 2018

DASH COMPONENTS CRACKED UNDER NORMAL USE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS, IF NOT DEADLY, SITUATION WHERE IN THE EVENT OF AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENT CREATING PROJECTILES FROM SUCH DEPLOYMENT THAT CAUSE EGREGIOUS BODILY HARM TO THE OCCUPANTS. DODGE KNOWINGLY IS ALLOWING SUCH CONDITIONS TO EXIST.

NHTSA ID

11079012

Incident

Jan 10, 2018

Mileage

122,220 mi

DASH HAS COMPLETELY FELL APART

NHTSA ID

10870913

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

I WENT OUT TO MY TRUCK THE OTHER DAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STARTING TO CRACK ABOVE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE NEW BUYING IT FROM THE DEALER. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. NOW THAT THE DASH IS CRACKING RIGHT ABOVE THE AIRBAG I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IN ANYWHERE LET ALONE PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK.

NHTSA ID

10779615

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE TRUNK TO AVOID STRIKING A DEER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10776409

Incident

Sep 17, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER ABOUT 11,000 MILES THE DASH BEGAN TO GET CRACKS AND FALL APART. IT GRADUALLY HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE VERY LARGE HOLES AND PIECES OF THE DASH HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE DUCT WORK OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING. THAT IS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VANN DODGE IN VINELAND NJ AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK PHOTOS AND LATER CALLED ME AND SAID THE DETERMINED THAT THE DASH WAS FAILING BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO SUN!!! THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED OR PARKED IN THE SHADE FOR MOST OF ITS EARLY LIFE AND CRACKS AND CHUNKS HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THEIR WAY OUT OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. NOW COMES ANOTHER PROBLEM OR INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE DASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURNED ON MY DEFROSTER AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC BLEW OUT OF THE VENT ON THE TOP OF THE DASH OR LACK THERE OF, AND HIT ME IN THE FACE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND ALMOST HIT AN ONCOMING CAR. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR AVOIDED ME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS AGO TO HAVE SERVICE ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE AND QUESTIONED THEM ON THE STATUS OF ANY RECALL AND THEY ASKED ME FOR MY VIN # OF MY DODGE RAM PICKUP WHICH I PROVIDED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECORD OF ME TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR A INSPECTION, WHICH IS TOTALLY FALSE!!! THEY CONVENIENTLY LOST MY RECORDS ON MY PICK UP!!!!! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING KILLED DUE TO THIS FAULT OF CHRYSLER CORP. I HAVE PUT A REPLACEMENT SKIN ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH LEFT TO ADHERE THE SKIN TO AT A COST OF NEARLY $300 BUT THE PIECES CONTINUALLY FALL INTO THE VENTS. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10766690

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

11,000 mi

DASH BOARDS CAVING IN POSSIBLE CAUSING AIR BAGS, LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

10761875

Incident

Sep 6, 2015

Mileage

92,000 mi

[XXX] *TR

NHTSA ID

10712517

Incident

Apr 2, 2015

DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED FROM EXPOSER TO SUNLIGHT. IN PAST YEAR IT HAS BROKEN INTO VERY SHARP PIECES ABOVE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF DRIVER. ONE CAN CUT HIMSELF AND I HAVE JUST TRYING TO DUST OR CLEAN INSIDE OF TRUCK. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THESE SHARP PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD WOULD DO IN AN ACCIDENT AND IF AIR BAGS WOULD PUSH THESE SHARP PIECES INTO FACES OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN FRONT SEAT OF TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680341

Incident

Feb 26, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

WAS IN A COLLISION WITH FRONT END IMPACT AT 45 MPH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS ON TRUCK DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED A FRACTURED STERNUM WITH SWELLING FROM IIMPACTING STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596445

Incident

May 30, 2014

Mileage

118,400 mi

DASH CRACKED ABOVE AIRBAG WHICH COULD CAUSE SHARP PLASTIC TO IMPALE PASSENGER IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569233

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING FOR OVER 2 YEARS. LARGE PIECES ARE BREAKING OFF AND FALLING INTO THE DASH AREA WHERE THERE ARE MANY ELECTRICAL WIRES AND VACUUM HOSES. THE PIECES THAT ARE BREAKING OFF ARE LARGE AND HAVE SHARP EDGES THAT MAY CUT INTO THE WIRES AND HOSES AND MAY START FIRES OR ELECTRICAL FAILURES/SHORTS. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE YEAR DUE TO MANUFACTURING. SOMETIMES AS I'M DRIVING, THE BROKEN PIECES POP OUT TOWARDS PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT A SHORT MAY DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553898

Incident

Nov 26, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE 01 RAM 1500 "T" BONED A MID SIZED PASSENGER CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552602

Incident

Oct 17, 2013

Mileage

113,000 mi

DASH HAD BEGAN TO CRACK AND CRACKS HAVE PROGRESSED TO POINT OF THEY REACH THE TRIM BEZEL. INITIALLY DEALER SAID TO JUST WAIT THEY FELT DODGE WOULD RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THEY DIDN'T ADVISE TO REPLACE BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST HAPPEN WITH NEW ONE AS WELL. BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AND AFTER CONTACTING DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF AGE OF TRUCK AND MILEAGE NOW (60,000) NOTHING COULD BE DONE. MY CONCERNS ARE IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE DASH COULD JUST CRUMBLE AND SEND SHARP PIECES FLYING THROUGHOUT INTERIOR. AS WELL AS INTERIOR OF DASH BEING EXPOSED AND CAUSING OPERATIONAL ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504693

Incident

May 1, 2002

Mileage

14,000 mi

MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS HAD THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATING SINCE 30,000 MILES AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT ONLY HAD CRACKS BUT SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT THE DASH HAS LITERALLY DISINTEGRATED WITH SHARP OBJECTS FLYING ABOUT THE CAB WHEN WINDOWS ARE DOWN. MY RESEARCH SUGGEST THAT CHRYSLER USED INFERIOR PRODUCTS AS A COST REDUCTION, DID NOT ACQUIRE THE PROPER MANUFACTURING TEMPERATURES WHICH RESULTS IN CRACKING, AND THE DASH IS INADEQUATELY MOUNTED CAUSING FLEXING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.........AND NOT A COSMETIC ISSUE AS DODGE HAS HIDDEN BEHIND!! WHEN THE DASH BREAKS, SHARP OBJECTS ARE IN FLIGHT THROUGHOUT THE CAB. WHEN IT BREAKS NEAR THE AIR BAGS, I BELIEVE THEY WILL DEPLOY THEMSELVES AND THAT ALONE IS A SERIOUS EVENT WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC! DODGE HAS A HISTORY ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY FIRST PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW 1973 DODGE RAM, IGNORING WARRANTY AND MAKING EXCUSES OF WHY THINGS AREN'T THEIR FAULT! IT'S HIGH TIME THIS COMPANY ASSUMES IT'S RESPONSIBILITY ESPECIALLY AFTER TAX PAYERS BAILED THEM OUT!!!! I HAVE FOUGHT MANY BATTLES WITH THIS COMPANY CONCERNING WARRANTY ISSUES AS WELL WHERE A BRAND NEW 1976 DODGE RAM I PURCHASED SPUN THE RACES IN THE REARS AS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING!!! THE TIME FOR MAKING EXCUSES IS OLD, IT'S TIME FOR ACTION AND ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN INFERIOR PRODUCT!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10499755

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY TRUCK BRAND NEW IN DAYTONA BEACH, FL IN 2001. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AND PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING MONDAY, 11/26/2012 PART OF THE DASH FELL OUT AND NOW THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN MY DASHBOARD! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT BUT FOUND NOTHING I CAN AFFORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486484

Incident

Nov 26, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

I COULD NOT GET PAST THE ENTER 'FAILED COMPONENT' REQUIREMENT SO I HAD TO CHOSE AIR BAGS BECAUSE IT IS THE CLOSEST COMPONENT RELATED TO THE DASH AREA I COULD FIND. I AM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO OWNS A DODGE TRUCK WITH A SEVERELY CRACKING DASH. I REALIZE THAT THIS MAY NOT SEEM TO BE A 'SAFETY' ISSUE, BUT BELIEVE ME, WHEN YOU HAVE A DASH THAT IS CRACKED INTO PIECES WITH NUMEROUS SHARP EDGES IT SHOULD BE. I WOULD NEVER LET ANY CHILD BE IN MY TRUCK UNSUPERVISED BECAUSE THIS DASH IS SO BAD I TRULY BELIEVE AN INJURY COULD RESULT FROM CONTACT WITH THE SHARP EDGES. I REALIZE DODGE WOULD BE OUT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM, AND I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THEY ARE STILL SELLING THE SAME BAD PLASTIC DASHES AS REPLACEMENTS, BUT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. AT LEAST THEY COULD OFFER A NEW DASH MADE FROM DIFFERENT MATERIAL AT A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE COST. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM...THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457452

Incident

Apr 18, 2012

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CHIN AND MOUTH, REQUIRING 24 STITCHES. THE CONTACT WAS IMMEDIATLEY TAKEN FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. KMJ UPDATED 02/01/12 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELTS DIDI NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/10/12

NHTSA ID

10441473

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

171,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND WAS AWAITING EXAMINATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10437979

Incident

Nov 30, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A BRIEF CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFECT WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/24/11

NHTSA ID

10424331

Incident

Sep 7, 2011

Mileage

146,000 mi

DASHBOARD AND CAP IS CRACKING UP INTO JAGGED PIECES. SHOULD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, SEVERE INJURY COULD RESULT FROM BEING PUNCTURED FROM PLASTIC SHRAPNEL MUCH MORE THAN THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD IMPLEMENT A REPLACEMENT AT NO EXPENSE. *LN

NHTSA ID

10376839

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

THE DASH PANELS ON MY 01 DODGE 1500 RAM QUAD CAB TRUCK HAVE CRACKED AND ARE FALLING APART. THE HOLES IN THE DASH HAVE EXPOSED WIRING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. IT APPEARS THE MOLDED PLASTICS USED IN THE DASH PANELS ARE DETERIORATING OVER TIME DUE TO THE SUN'S HEAT AND RAYS. I SUSPECT, LIKE POLYPROPOLENE TUBING, ALL DASHES MADE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WILL DESINIGRATE. ANYWAY, AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT A AFTERMARKET DASH COVER IS THE BEST REMEDY, HOWEVER I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE OLD DASH PANEL COULD CUT SOME WIRING OVER TIME AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367956

Incident

Jul 4, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi