2018 RAM 1500 Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the “Service Air Bag” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The air bag warning light remained illuminated while driving. Additionally, the horn was inoperable while depressed, and the controls on the left side of the steering wheel failed to operate as intended; however, the right side of the steering wheel operated as intended. The dealer was contacted for recall information and informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure was associated with an unknown recall found online. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11721810

Incident

Nov 12, 2025

Mileage

120,000 mi

Steering Gear Rack - Steering control rapidly diminished over a short amount of time. Initially was okay but steering began to intermittently stick and wouldn’t self-center. Issue became nearly full-time within a month. Got to the point that it required a ‘tug’ to re-center. Took to a shop to additionally find that the boot clamps had broke themselves loose, causing the boots to separate and freely slide around. Driver seat airbag - service airbag system (?) warning on dash. Loose/bad connector in center console according to a mechanic leading to potential airbag deployment failure. Both of these issues are reportedly exceedingly common among RAMs, with steering gear racks extending as far back as 2013, and the airbag situation commonly effecting at least the ‘18 models. Additionally, Rear axle (passenger-side) - Shop discovered at the same time a seal had failed causing axle lubricant to spray onto hub causing extreme risk to breaking system due to the spray. Potentially lead to corrosion of caliper and caused advanced rusting resulting in wheel not spinning freely/easily. Driver side works as should. Warranty refused coverage of steering gear rack due to ‘improper installation’, as they claim, due to boots having separated from their respective mount points and loose clamps. Dates and mileage are rough estimates at time of on-set.

NHTSA ID

11669917

Incident

May 12, 2025

With in only a month and a half of buying the vehicle the suspension system goes to exit/entry height and will not increase in height even though the compressor is on

NHTSA ID

11613854

Incident

Sep 7, 2024

Air Bag light on in vehicle Dealership recommended replacing airbag sensor and wiring cost $1400.00 Truck never involved in accident airbag never deployed truck has 61000 ? Why is stellantis not responsible for fixing issue It’s a SAFETY issue ! Are Airbags like tires need to replace after 61000

NHTSA ID

11546405

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

The front air bags did not deploy when I struck a Chevy SUV the front end of my truck. The whole front end is gone and air bags should have deployed

NHTSA ID

11540614

Incident

Aug 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated while walking to the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear passenger’s side air bags had deployed, causing damages to the roof of the vehicle and dented the frame of the rear passenger’s side door. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 47,818.

NHTSA ID

11532819

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

Mileage

47,818 mi

I was hit on the drivers the pillar immediately hit my head shoulder arm and ribs hard and side curtain airbags never deployed and the other vehicle all theirs deployed

NHTSA ID

11519287

Incident

Apr 24, 2023

Ram 1500 interiors are damaged and destroyed when water intrudes into the cabs, a problem Fiat Chrysler allegedly knows about. The water leaks allegedly cause electronics to short-circuit which damages the rear airbags and propellant. And the water leaks cause mold and mildew which sickens occupants and makes the Ram 1500 trucks health hazards. In addition to the rear airbags, the Ram 1500 water leaks can allegedly cause problems with the "push-to-start ignition system, locks, windows, headlights, taillights, interior lights, windshield wipers, climate control, infotainment system and navigation, and back up camera." Ram 1500 drivers should allegedly expect failures of the headlights and tail lights, issues with starting the trucks, turn signal and brake light failures, faulty backup cameras and infotainment system problems. The Ram 1500 water leak lawsuit further claims drivers can lose the windshield wipers and the ability to lock or unlock the trucks. Fiat Chrysler has allegedly known about the Ram 1500 water leak problem since 2016 but actively concealed the alleged defects. TSBs - TSB S2023000024, TSB 23-016-21 titled, “Water Leaks At Sliding Backlite.

NHTSA ID

11506126

Incident

Nov 10, 2022

I was traveling 48 miles per hour when another vehicle pulled in front of me. I was able to apply the brakes and collision was at 18 miles per hour. The police estimate other vehicle traveling 16 miles per hour. Air bags deployed in other vehicle not in my truck causing passenger to sustain head injury both myself and wife sustained injuries to upper torsos

NHTSA ID

11503704

Incident

Dec 2, 2022

I was in an accident, I hit a bale of hay doing 65 mph that a local farmer lost off the back of his feed truck. My air bags DID NOT deploy. I never had any warning lights on my dash warning me to service air bags. Thankfully I wasn’t severely injured and walked away with no more then a sore and bruised body and shaken up nerves.

NHTSA ID

11496508

Incident

Dec 5, 2022

The contact owned a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed head-on with a Ford Focus. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver sustained injuries to his lower back, neck, and head, and medical attention was provided. The passenger seat occupant sustained injuries to her chest, lower back, and head. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot and then to a body shop. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was contacted and sent an investigator to evaluate the vehicle and reported that while driving at 55 mph there was not enough G-force for air bag deployment. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ID

11489847

Incident

Sep 25, 2022

Mileage

59,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. TAKE TO DEALER AND THEY SAY AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS BROKE AND WANTS 1200.00 TO FIX IT. WARRANTY ENDS AT 36000 MILES I HAT 39000

NHTSA ID

11399870

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

Mileage

39,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH AT APPROX. 40 MPH, ON A COUNTRY ROAD, WITH SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11384388

Incident

Dec 19, 2020

Mileage

28,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT, I HIT A PATCH OF ICE ON JUNE 7 TH, 2020 IN UTAH. MY TRUCK CAME UPON THE ICE CAUSING ME TO SLIP AND SLIDE AND ULTIMATELY LEAVE THE ROAD WHERE I HIT A FENCE AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES OF DEBRIS AND A BERM AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I HIT MY FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL BREAKING MY NOSE, MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH BROKE RIBS AND OUR BACK. WE COULD OF SAVED OURSELVES MULTIPLE INJURIES IF OUR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*DT*DT*DT*JB*JB*TR

NHTSA ID

11331243

Incident

Jun 7, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

FLASHING DASH LIGHTS TPMS WARNINGS TOOK TRUCK IN AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG FEW MONTHS LATER TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY,CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN BUT ADJUSTER SAID POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS, TRUCK WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING.*DT *TP

NHTSA ID

11319817

Incident

Jan 3, 2020

Mileage

24,000 mi

I WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AS I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET WENT TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, BRAKE SYSTEM FLASHED, NO TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE TURNED OFF. ENDED UP IMPACTING 3 OTHER VEHICLES AND A SCHOOL BUS. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. ALL PARTIES WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, ALMOST ALL ARE SEEKING REPRESENTATION FROM ATTORNEYS FOR THEIR INJURIES.*DT *AS

NHTSA ID

11258151

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

1,844 mi

THE TRUCK WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A DEER IN 2018 THAT DID NOT RESULT IN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY WHEN A DEER RAN OUT AND WAS STRUCK WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IN AUGUST 2019, THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER STRUCK A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. THIS COLLISION ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT DISENGAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT (THEY STAYED IN THE LOCKED POSITION). AFTER TALKING WITH THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND THE AUTO BODY SHOP, THEY FELT THAT THE SEVERITY OF THE SECOND COLLISION AND THE LOCATION SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIR BAGS, BUT IT DID NOT. THE PICTURES AND POLICE REPORT ARE FOR THE SECOND COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

11253565

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

Mileage

14,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER AND SLED BACKWARDS, BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE INJURIES INCLUDED SPRAINED HAND AND A LARGE ABRASION ON THE LEFT ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM DEALER (407-641-2080, LOCATED AT 8675 COMMODITY CIR, ORLANDO, FL 32819) AND STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS PROVIDED. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11240445

Incident

Jul 12, 2019

Mileage

51,025 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY NEW DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK IN DENVER, COLORADO. I WAS DRIVING 25MPH ON A STREET/ AVENUE, MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. A CHEVY TAHOE UNEXPECTEDLY SMASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY TRUCK [ I WAS "T-BONED"]. NOT ONE SINGLE AIR BAG INSIDE THE TRUCK DEPLOYED !!! I WAS ON MY WAY TAKING A CO-WORKER HOME FROM WORK. WE BOTH WORK SHEET METAL CONSTRUCTION DAILY. AN AMBULANCE, FIRE DEPT., AND POLICE DEPT. ALL SHOWED UP. MY CO-WORKER AND I BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES. I HAD TO BE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO DENVER HEALTH HOSPITAL. WHERE THE DOCTORS ALL EXCLAIMED, THAT MY INJURIES WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO BAD HAD MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I PERSONALLY SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY LEFT SHOULDER-CLAVICLE AREA, AS WELL AS INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK, AND BETWEEN BOTH OF MY SHOULDER BLADES. AND THE DOCTORS ARE RECOMMENDING NOW THAT I BE SEEN MANDATORILY BY A NEUROSURGEON HERE IN DENVER, COLORADO, FOR MY NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *DT *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11208547

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

7,600 mi