The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a critical safety warning for owners of certain Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks. A recent tragic incident has confirmed another fatality linked to a defective Takata airbag inflator, this time in a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. This marks the first death attributed to a passenger-side Takata inflator rupture and tragically, the first known incident in a Dodge Ram 1500 vehicle related to this widespread recall.
This particular 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 was among the 385,686 vehicles recalled in 2015 due to faulty Takata airbags. Alarmingly, NHTSA estimates that approximately 84,000 of these pickup trucks remain unrepaired. Owners of these unrepaired Dodge Ram 1500 vehicles are unknowingly at severe risk of serious injury or even death. If you own a Dodge Ram 1500 that may be part of this recall, it is vital that you DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until the recall repair is completed and the defective airbag is replaced. This repair is absolutely free and could save your life or the life of someone you love.
This devastating fatality brings the total number of confirmed Takata-related deaths in the United States to 26. It is absolutely imperative that all vehicle owners, especially those with older vehicles like the Dodge Ram 1500, immediately check for open Takata recalls. If your Dodge Ram 1500 is under recall, schedule the free repair at your dealership as soon as possible.
“The older a defective Takata air bag inflator gets, the more dangerous it becomes,” stated NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson. “Please, get your air bag replaced now for your sake, and for the sake of those who love you. Don’t put yourself or someone you love at risk of dying or being seriously injured because of a defective, recalled Takata air bag. These repairs are absolutely free and could save your life.”
NHTSA strongly urges all vehicle owners to take immediate action and check if their vehicle, particularly older models like the Dodge Ram 1500, has an open Takata air bag recall. If a recall is found, contact your local dealership to schedule a FREE repair without delay. Heed any warnings provided by the vehicle manufacturer regarding driving your vehicle before the repair is done. Even seemingly minor accidents can cause these defective Takata airbags to explode, projecting shrapnel and leading to fatal or life-altering injuries. The age of the airbag is a significant contributing factor, placing occupants of older vehicles such as the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 at significantly higher risk.
For Dodge Ram 1500 owners and other vehicle owners wanting to check recall information directly with the manufacturer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) Takata Call Center is available at 833-585-0144. You can also visit the Mopar website for recall information specific to your vehicle: https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehicle/recalls/takata-recalls.html.
How to Check for Recalls on Your Dodge Ram 1500 and Other Vehicles:
If you suspect your Dodge Ram 1500 or any other vehicle may have a safety defect that is not part of a current recall, contact NHTSA directly. You can contact NHTSA online or by calling their Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, operating Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. For more detailed information and resources, please visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls. Protect yourself and your loved ones – check for recalls today, especially if you own a Dodge Ram 1500 or another vehicle from the model years affected by the Takata airbag recall.
