Consumer's vehicle was involved in a front end collision while driving at 25 MPH. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Consumerwill inform the manufacturer.*ak
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 airbags problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Dodge Ram 3500 we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 31.
Owners have filed 31 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming majority of these 31 complaints—roughly 27—are about Takata airbag recall campaigns (15V313000, 16V352000, 14V770000, 14V354000) that were issued but parts were not available. Owners received recall notices starting in 2014–2016 but couldn't schedule repairs because dealers reported no stock and no estimated delivery dates. One owner waited over a year for parts to arrive; another had 50-plus vehicles ahead on the waiting list and never got a completion estimate from the manufacturer. Some owners tried multiple states—Washington, Ohio, Idaho—with no luck finding parts. The manufacturer acknowledged some of these cases but couldn't give timelines.
Two distinct actual failures appear: one owner's airbag warning light came back on a few miles after the dealer finished the repair, and a dashboard shimmy developed afterward. Another owner was in a 25 mph front-end collision where the airbags didn't deploy. A fourth owner objected to signing a waiver releasing the dealership from liability if they damaged the dash during recall work.
The recall delay narrative is consistent across complaints: parts distribution disconnect, dealer waiting lists, no accountability timeline from Dodge or Takata.
Same Dodge Ram 3500 airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall—Parts Shortage
Multiple Takata recall campaigns (15V313000, 16V352000, 14V770000, 14V354000) issued for 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 airbags, but recall parts were unavailable for extended periods. Dealers reported waiting lists exceeding 50 vehicles and could not provide estimated delivery dates. Some owners waited over a year for parts to arrive; others remained unable to complete recalls despite contacting dealers and the manufacturer repeatedly.
When: 2014–2016 recall notices; some repairs delayed into 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but remedy parts unavailable; Dealer unable to provide estimated completion date; Prolonged wait periods for replacement components
Codes mentioned: 15V313000, 16V352000, 14V770000, 14V354000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers reported parts distribution shortages; one owner stated repair was completed after a one-year delay.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple Takata recall campaigns (15V313000, 16V352000, 14V770000, 14V354000); manufacturer could not provide estimated parts availability dates.
Airbag Warning Light—Recurrence After Dealer Service
After dealer completed airbag light recall repair, the warning light illuminated again within a few miles of pickup. Dealer attributed recurrence to a separate new issue, but the pattern suggests either incomplete repair or underlying electrical/module problem.
When: Post-repair, within a few miles of dealership return
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated again shortly after recall repair; Vehicle developed shimmy after return from dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claimed second fault was a new problem unrelated to original repair.
Airbag Nondeployment in Collision
Front-end collision at 25 mph; airbags failed to deploy. Owner stated intent to notify manufacturer. This is a critical safety allegation but lacks detail on vehicle condition or prior service history.
When: During front-end collision at 25 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy on impact
Dealer Waiver Demand for Recall Repair
Dealership required owner to sign waiver accepting liability for dashboard damage during recall repair work. Owner objected to bearing financial responsibility for dealer-caused damage during a manufacturer-mandated recall repair.
When: At time of recall service appointment
Symptoms owners cite: Dealership demanded waiver releasing them from liability for dash breakage
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership required signed waiver as condition of performing recall work.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags) was received in july of 2016. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Dodge Ram 3500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Dodge Ram 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 31 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 121,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Dodge/Ram 3500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.