MyCarTSB

2016 Ram 3500 Airbags Problems

7 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

7
Complaints
3
Recalls
5
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2023Nov 2016
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Airbags Recalls (3)

RECALLCampaign #21V632000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 2015-2016 Ram 3500, and Ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y55.

RECALLCampaign #17V302000

AIR BAGS

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and 2014-2016 Ram 3500 vehicles. Certain driving conditions, such as driving off-road or debris striking the vehicle may cause the roll rate sensor to trigger a fault within the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). If this fault occurs, the rollover side curtain air bag and the seat belt pretensioner will be disabled from deploying.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ORC software, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T25.

RECALLCampaign #25V010000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ram 3500, Ram 1500, 2016-2020 Ram 2500, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

Fix: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 05C, 09C, and 10C.

Owner Complaints (7)

criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Nov 2025

After your dealership repaired your heater, the airbag warning light came on. The dealer discovered that your steering wheel airbag harness was either shorted or crushed during the heater repair work. The dealership stated the part is no longer available and has no solution, meaning you'd have to drive the vehicle with a disabled airbag. The fix would likely involve replacing the damaged airbag harness and possibly the steering wheel airbag module itself.

NHTSA #: 11699554
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jan 2023

The contact owned a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, he crashed into another vehicle waiting at a stop light. The driver-side air bag did not deploy upon impact. The other driver was taken to the hospital; however, the driver's whereabouts are unknown. The contact also sustained whiplash which he was treated for days after the accident. A police report was filed. Due to the damage, the contact's vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The contact went to the dealer and notified them about the air bag failure; they then referred him to the manufacturer. The contact filed a claim with the manufacturer and an investigator was assigned to look into the failure. The investigation determined that since the contact did not depress the brake pedal prior to the accident, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 242,000.

NHTSA #: 11502345
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Nov 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR PERIODICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. NORTHPOINT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (4441 US-5, DERBY, VT 05829, (802) 334-3179) AND MIDSTATE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1365 US-302, BARRE, VT 05641, (802) 479-0586) WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE PAID AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA #: 11278925
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 RAM 3500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS JOB, HE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER DUE TO FOGGY CONDITIONS. THE BARRIER HAD NO BRIGHT PAINT OR REFLECTORS AND WAS NOT VISIBLE THROUGH THE FOG. THE MOTOR TORE THROUGH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BRUISED LEG AND A SEPARATED SHOULDER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEADACHE AND HEAD PAINS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIVE STAR JEEP, RAM, DODGE, CHRYSLER (3068 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, (478) 287-1907), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,125. *DT*JB *DT*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA #: 11184566
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2017

I WAS TRAVELING W/B ON I-78 APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH(IN A SNOW STORM),AND I WAS TRYING TO PASS A TRACTOR -TRAILER.WHEN I WAS ABOUT 150FT FROM HIS TRAILER, THEIR TRACTOR PROCEEDED TO JACK-KNIFE IN FRONT OF ME.HE THEN CAME TO REST ALONG THE JERSEY BARRIER WALL(TRACTOR FACING EAST BOUND IN WEST BOUND LANES AND TRAILER FACING NORTH/SOUTH ACROSS INTERSTATE) , AND I WENT INTO A SKID AND HIT THEIR FRONT END AT ABOUT 35MPH. UPON IMPACT I PUSHED HIM OFF THE WALL AND SPUN HIM IN A 100 DEGREE ROTATION,SO HE WAS FACING W/B OFF THE SHOULDER AND THE TRAILER WAS PARTIALLY IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE W/B LANES. I CAME TO REST AFTER IMPACT ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY FROM IMPACT AREA. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. I ALSO HAD MY TRAILER ATTACHED(GOOSENECK) W 8 MOTORCYCLES INSIDE TOTAL WEIGHT(14K) ADDING INERTIA FORCE AND SPEED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND TRAILER,I WAS SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF I COULD SEE THE RADIUS ARM(SUSPENSION PIECE THAT HOLDS THE AXLE TO THE FRAME)ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS BENT .THE SLEEVE FOR MY GOOSENECK TRAILER WAS BENT ROUGHLY 3/4-1" ( THE SLEEVE IS 4" DIAMETER TUBE AND 1/4" THICK).I DID NOT SEE THE DAMAGE OF THEIR VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.THIS ALL TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT 10:45PM ROUGHLY AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO WALK AROUND DUE TO IT BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND SNOWING .I AM GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON DRY PAVEMENT OR I HIT THE CENTER OF THE TRAILER, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE MORE SEVERE. I AM JUST VERY SURPRISED AGAIN THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF FORCE ON IMPACT BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND TRAILER HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA #: 10969495
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 2016

RAN INTO THE REAR END OF 18 WHEELER DEAD STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 - 45 MPH . MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY YET THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF TRUCK WAS BASHED IN AND PROBABLY TOTALED.

NHTSA #: 10926511
mediumAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Crash / FireFiled: Jun 2016

INVOLVED IN A FRONT END, AND DRIVER SIDE COLLISION AT A SPEED OVER 50MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT FIRE, THERE WAS A MINI EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING, ABOUT THIS MATTER.

NHTSA #: 10873428

Other 2016 Ram 3500 Issues