An air bag is encased in the horn enclosure. I attempted to blow the horn and the airbag cover, which is part of the horn enclosure split. Hill kelly Dodge of pensacola, florida replaced the assembly. Approximately november, 2014, the cover again split when I attempted to blow the horn. Dealer tells me that an air bag is located in the horn enclosure and that tampering with the horn cover…
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 airbags problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
13crashes
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 27 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 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.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 shows a pattern of airbag non-deployment in frontal and side-impact crashes at speeds of 25–64 mph. Owners report that during collisions—some severe enough to total the vehicle—the driver's and passenger airbags simply did not deploy. Several owners sustained serious injuries: head and cervical trauma, concussions, rib/sternum fractures, and spleen damage. In multiple cases, owners ended up in the emergency room or required extended physical therapy.
Beyond non-deployment, owners report the airbag warning light comes on intermittently or stays on, often traced to a defective clock spring. One mechanic states this failure happens routinely on Chryslers, yet the manufacturer claims no knowledge of it. Owners also report that a front passenger-side collision caused the entire airbag housing to detach from the steering wheel and strike the driver like a projectile instead of deploying.
Recall issues compound the problem: owners received notices for campaigns 15V313000, 15V460000, and 16V352000 but said the manufacturer could not supply parts for extended periods, leaving vehicles unrepaired. One owner estimated $1,800 to fix the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), which affects multiple electrical systems including airbags. When owners filed complaints post-crash, Chrysler/Dodge often denied responsibility or claimed the airbag should not have deployed based on impact speed or angle—even in cases where serious injuries resulted.
Same Dodge Ram 1500 airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Airbags fail to deploy during frontal and side-impact collisions at various speeds (25–64 mph), resulting in serious injuries including head trauma, cervical/spinal injuries, concussions, rib/sternum fractures, and spleen damage. Owners report the vehicle was totaled or heavily damaged in multiple cases.
When: Occurs during collision events; mileage ranges 11,506–106,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on impact; Seatbelts fail to lock or retract properly during crash; No airbag deployment in frontal collisions; No airbag deployment in side-impact and rollover events
Codes mentioned: 17V-302 (loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships have inspected vehicles post-crash and denied responsibility; parts replaced after incidents include airbag housing unit, steering wheel, spring, and cruise control arm
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 17V-302 (airbag and seat belt pretensioner capability), 15V313000 (airbags), 15V460000 (airbags and seat belts), 16V352000 (airbags). Chrysler/Dodge denied responsibility in multiple cases despite crash involvement. Parts unavailable for recall repairs in several complaints.
Airbag warning light illumination
The airbag warning light comes on intermittently or continuously with no obvious cause, creating concern among owners about potential unintended deployment or system malfunction.
When: Mileage 74,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light continuously illuminated; Airbag warning light comes on for no apparent reason
Repairs/costs cited: Defective clock spring identified as cause in one case; vehicle not repaired despite dealership diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VIN not included in recalls; manufacturer claimed no knowledge of widespread clock spring issue despite owner reports of internet documentation
Clock spring failure
Clock spring component breaks, triggering the airbag warning light and potentially disabling the airbag system. Owners report this failure is common on Chrysler vehicles but not acknowledged by manufacturer.
When: Out of warranty; reported at 70,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Clock spring fracture
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic stated clock spring failure happens routinely on Chryslers; repair cost not specified in complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denies knowledge of the problem despite widespread internet reports
Airbag housing detachment and projectile deployment
During a front passenger-side collision, the entire airbag housing unit becomes unbolted from the steering wheel, turns into a projectile, strikes the driver, and damages the steering wheel instead of deploying properly to protect occupants.
When: During collision event
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag housing becomes unbolted and detaches from steering wheel; Airbag becomes projectile; Airbag strikes driver and damages steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag housing unit, steering wheel, spring, and cruise control arm replaced; faulty parts kept by dealership for inspection
Unintended airbag deployment
Passenger-side and side-curtain airbags deploy without warning while the vehicle is being driven, posing a safety hazard to occupants.
When: At 34,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag deploys without warning; Side-curtain airbag deploys without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; diagnostic results unknown, vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Airbag horn cover cracking
The airbag cover within the horn enclosure splits when the horn is pressed, creating a safety hazard because the airbag is located in the horn enclosure. The same issue recurred after dealer replacement.
When: Initial failure and recurrence approximately November 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Horn cover splits when horn is pressed; Airbag cover fractures
Repairs/costs cited: Horn assembly replaced by Hill Kelly Dodge of Pensacola, Florida; cover split again on second attempt
Recall part unavailability and delayed repair
Multiple owners received recall notices (15V313000, 15V460000, 16V352000, 17V-302) but the manufacturer was unable to supply parts for an extended period, leaving vehicles unrepaired and owners at risk.
When: Recall notification periods (2015–2016 timeframe)
Symptoms owners cite: Recall part not available; Extended delay in recall repair completion
Codes mentioned: 15V313000, 15V460000, 16V352000, 17V-302
Repairs/costs cited: One complaint cites ~$1800 cost estimate for TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) repair/replacement; one owner requested internal investigation into whether vehicles were actually fixed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 15V313000, 15V460000, 16V352000, 17V-302; parts distribution disconnect reported by owners
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 2009 Dodge Ram 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 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?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 31,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2009/Dodge/Ram 1500.
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.