1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Airbags Problems

I know I am not the only one that thinks this is a bad problem, in fact I have not met a person that has owned this era of Dodge Ram that has their Dashboard and the whole parts inside can have been falling apart. Mine has fallen and hit my legs and or lap. Now I don’t mean the whole dash at one time but I have glued, taped and put a dash pad over top to try to keep things from falling into the vents and blower motor or anything that is behind and under the top. This is a definite safety problem cause I never know when this will happen and happening more often. I bought this truck with 11 miles on it from Logansport Indiana, September of 1999. I had been looking for a 2 wheel drive with a Cummins 5.9 Diesel and found it there in Logansport we lived in Lafayette Indiana and hoped we would be able to travel and see this beautiful country. My Wife’s family started having medical problems and after we did what we could for them, then my family needed help and none wanted nursing homes so we put aside our wishes and took care of them. They took care of us even so to many on both sides didn’t want to take care of us and some didn’t even want us, luckily we knew what that felt like so we didn’t turn our backs when we were needed, (Golden Rule) All that aside we wanted to be able to take the Airstream 2002 we got in 2020 still wanted to travel. We sold Florida home and made sure 2500 Ran was mechanical sound and power train was checked, oil, transmission fluid changed put helper bags on leaf springs and drove to Indiana, sold our home we had bought in 78 and sold that house and pulled the Airstream to Tucson Az to find our forever home and think we might have finally got one and put our dream of travel aside. I was diagnosed with Miligant Myloma in Florida Cancer Center and went through Radiation and Chemotherapy in Port Charlotte Florida before the trip and now just went through Radiation here at Banner University Cancer Center and go see my Cancer Doctor at VA here to see

NHTSA ID

11516771

Incident

May 16, 2007

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT SEEMS TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM. THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE, WHERE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD.

NHTSA ID

11101121

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

165,000 mi

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT REGARDING DASH BOARD. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING WITH JUST 30,000 MILES ON TRUCK, WHEN I PUT IN COMPLIANT TO NHTSA. NOW 109,000 THE ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS, COMPUTER HARNESS WIRING ARE EXPOSED WITH A INTERMITTENT STALLING AND A GUESSING GAME FROM AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUES. "UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL SHORTS FROM CRACKED DASH A POSSIBILITY" "ABS SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON, ALSO "UNDETERMINED BY DEALER", "CAN'T TRACK CODE" "DON'T DRIVE AS AIRBAG MIGHT DEPLOY BECAUSE DASH HAS DASH DEBRIS FROM CRACKS" PLUS HEARING "REFUSE TO SERVICE UNLESS REPLACE THE DASHBOARD" ALL THESE QUOTES WHEN TRYING TO TAKE TO GET THE TRUCK FIXED. MAIN COMPUTER HARNESS INTERMITTENT "NO BUS" CAN'T FIND SHORTS! STALLS OUT ON FREEWAY. THE GLOVE BOX EVEN HANGS ON ONLY ONE SIDE. UNSAFE IF AIRBAGS DEPLOY. SPLINTERING OF REMAINS CHARDS OF FAULTY DASHBOARD PLASTIC, STALL ON FAST LANE OF 14 FREEWAY IN CA HAD TO COAST TO RIGHT SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING LUCKY THE BRAKES WORKED AND THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. SHORT IN WIRE DUE TO EXPOSED DASH BOARD.

NHTSA ID

11058145

Incident

Jul 23, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

DASH FALLING APART IN CLUDING AIR BAG AIR BAG S/W VENTS FALLING OUT THE BEZEL FALLING THE GLOVE CONPARTMENT FALLING WIRES CUT HAD TO BE REPAIRED RADIO FELL OUT OF DASH GOT A DASH BOARD COVER AND HAVE TO TAPE THE CONPONITS TOGEATHER NEED TO REPLACE HEATER CORE NO SHOP WILL DO IT BECAUSE OF THE DASH I HAVE CUT MY HANDS AND ARMS DO TO DIGGING PIECES OF DASH OUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NHTSA NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER TRUCKI GUESS WHEN THE DASH FALLS IN THE FLOOR AND CAUSE IT TO WRECK.

NHTSA ID

10871406

Incident

Jan 2, 2000

I HAD A LEAKY HEATER CORE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH REQUIRED ME TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD. I NOTICED SOME HAIRLINE FRACTURES IN THE DASH BEFORE I REMOVED IT, HOWEVER IT LOOKED VERY MUCH IN TACT SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. AFTER REMOVING THE DASH FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION HOWEVER IT BEGAN BREAKING APART AND THROWING SHARDS OF SHARP BROKEN PLASTIC TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SEATS. IT VIRTUALLY BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE BEFORE MY VERY EYES AND I COULD NOT HELP BUT IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE ALL OF THOSE PLASTIC SHARDS BEING PROPELLED INTO MY BODY AND FACE. I AM TERRIFIED WHEN I THINK OF MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. THE PLASTIC IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IS DODGE AWARE OF THIS, ORVAM I THE ONLY ONE? WHAT A NIGHTMARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525513

Incident

Jul 16, 2013

Mileage

168,000 mi

1999 DODGE RAM 2500 PICK-UP. IN 2004 I NOTICED SOME CRACKS IN THE DASH BOARD, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IT WAS SO BAD THAT PIECES OF THE DASH BEGAN TO FALL INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS PARTIALLY EXPOSED WHICH IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. MY WIFE ALSO RECEIVED A CUT ON HER HAND TRYING TO REMOVE A PIECE OF THE DASH FROM INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422609

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

I OWN A 1999 DODGE RAM. AS I UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE RECEIVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DASH PLASTIC FAILURE. AS I READ THE POSTS, I SEE THAT AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES (DODGE RAM) ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE PLASTIC DASH SPLINTERS INTO SHARDS, REGARDLESS OF TIME OR CARE AND UPKEEP. SO HAS MINE. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHATICALLY ADD MY NAME TO THE GROWING LIST OF DISGUSTED OWNERS. I AM MORE THAN CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHARDS OF PLASTIC AROUND THE AIRBAG. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PASSENGER(S) IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS? I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER, AND HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THE RESULTS OF THE VIOLENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE EXTENT OF THE ADDITIONAL INJURIES IF SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC ARE ADDED TO THE BLAST OF THE AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT MERELY AN ISSUE OF AESTHETICS OR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. IT IS A MONUMENTAL SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. SENT RESPECTFULLY *TR

NHTSA ID

10347951

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. THE TRUCK WAS SHADY TO BEGIN WITH. WE HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT ABOUT 40 M.P.H. AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WAS INJURED AND HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK THE DEALER TOLD US THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCK SHOWED MANY SIGNS OF A PREVIOUS SERIOUS CRASH. IF THE AIRBAGS HAD WORKED PROPERLY I DON'T THINK THAT MY INJURIES WOULD BE AS SERIOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282592

Incident

Aug 27, 2009

Mileage

156,000 mi

SUBJECT VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL INTO A LIGHT POLE STRIKING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SERIOUS INJURIES, DO TO AIRBAG FAILURE TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244657

Incident

May 5, 2008

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR SHIFTING GEARS. THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT DO THE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL 01V153000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056122

MY 17 YEAR OLD SON HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A 1999 DODGE 2500 RAM TRUCK AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE HIT SEVERAL TREES AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS CONSIDERED THE TRUCK "NEFTR". WE CONTACTED DODGE CONCERNING THIS, THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE TRUCK AND TELL US WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIS SEAT BELT ALSO DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH DODGE AGAIN AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF SENDING ANYONE TO LOOK AT OUR TRUCK. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS CONCERNING AIRBAGS IN DODGES LARGER TRUCKS. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LEVEL OF UNCONCERN OF THE PEOPLE WORKING AT DODGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023916

Incident

Jun 21, 2003

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION , AND NONE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10002553

Incident

Dec 7, 2002

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING 15-20 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME, CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGER. *AK BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE HOOD, BUMPER, FRONT FENDER, RADIATOR, FAN THE HEAVY DUTY FRAME WERE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

881918

Incident

Feb 22, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE & SPUN AROUND, AND THEN HIT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN THE FRONT. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE & FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ID

868740

Incident

Aug 20, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SKIDDED 44 FEET, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS REAR WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. A MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATED FOUND AIRBAGS TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID

867284

Incident

Dec 27, 1999

CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH 35 MPH IMPACT, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL, DRIVER SUSTAINED CHIN INJURY AND NEEDED 24 STICHES. NO PRIOR WARNING OF INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

862957

Incident

Jun 2, 2000

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A TWO WAY RURAL ROADWAY, A MINI-VAN DRIVING TOWARD ME MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF ME AT 10-15 MPH (FAILURE TO YIELD). I HIT THE ABOVE MINI-VAN'S FRONT PASSENGER CORNER HEAD ON WITH THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. AFTER THE IMPACT WITH THE MINI-VAN, MY TRUCK HIT AN ELECTRIC POLE WITH FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MINI-VAN WAS THROWN 25 PACES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN WHICH IT WAS TRAVELING. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE MINI-VAN AND DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. MY SEAT BELTS SAVED ME FROM BEING THROWN FROM VEHICLE. MY FOREHEAD HIT THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL TRYING TO OVERCOME HEAD INJURIES THAT RESULTED. PATROL OFFICER AT ACCIDENT SUGGESTED I CONTACT MANUFACTURER ON FAILURE OF AIRBAGS. I DID NOT FEEL CONCEARNED AT THE TIME DUE TO FEELING FORTUNATE THAT INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE. AFTER A WEEK OR SO WENT BY I STILL HAD HEAD INJURIES RESULTING FROM STEERING WHEEL CONTACT AND CONTINUED MEDICAL ATTENTION. ONE WEEK LATER, A SIMILAR DODGE RAM TRUCK'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SIMILAR ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY INSPECTED VEHICLE. THEIR INSPECTION RESULTED IN DETERMINING THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS INSTANCE. BASED ON WITNESS' OBSERVATIONS OF THE ACCIDENT, I'M AM BEING TOLD TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IF MY HEAD INJURIES ARE CURED, I'M NOT PLANNING LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST MANUFACTURER AND/OR DRIVER AT FAULT. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF TWO RECENT SIMILAR CASES INVOLING DODGE TRUCK'S AIR BAGS. I FEEL CONCEARNED ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THIER AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN FUTURE ACCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE. OFFICER AND WITNESS ACCIDENT REPORTS AND PHISICAL MARKINGS LEFT AT ACCIDENT SCENE REVEAL THE IMPACT POINT OF VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC POLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

711201

Incident

Aug 11, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TREE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WERE HARD AND DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, ENGINE SOPPED/ NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG UPON IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ID

835625

Incident

Jan 11, 1999