Owners report widespread airbag non-deployment failures across multiple impact types and speeds. Driver-side frontal airbags failed to inflate in crashes at 30–70 mph despite severe front-end damage—crushed bumpers, destroyed radiators, and inoperable doors. Passenger-side frontal and curtain airbags also failed or deployed only partially. In one side-impact collision, a curtain airbag was punctured by a vehicle component and only inflated partially. Occupants struck steering wheels, dashboards, glove boxes, and poles without airbag protection, sustaining injuries including head trauma, spinal damage, neck strain, and whiplash.
One owner reported airbags deploying with such force that it knocked his wife unconscious and permanently imprinted the steering wheel emblem on her body, causing ongoing nerve and spinal damage.
Separately, the airbag warning light illuminated at 30k–78k miles in multiple vehicles. Dealers diagnosed at least one case as an OCR (Occupant Classification/Restraint) module failure requiring ~$600 replacement. Dealership service advisors stated that an illuminated warning light may prevent airbag deployment in a crash. One owner noted related recalls existed for slightly earlier 2010 production dates but were not applied as a blanket recall to all 2010 models. One vehicle also deployed passenger-side airbags without any crash involved.
Failure modes owners describe
Driver-side airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes
Driver-side frontal airbag failed to deploy in multiple frontal-impact collisions despite significant front-end damage. Occurred across a range of crash speeds (30–70 mph) and impact angles.
When: Various mileage levels: 19,000; 67,000; 217,000; 220,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag inflation despite frontal impact and front-end crushing; Vehicle occupants struck steering wheel, head, face, and glove box in crashes where airbag should have deployed; Significant vehicle damage (bumper crushed, radiator destroyed, door inoperable) indicating severity of impact
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering) identified in at least one case; no recall issued broadly to address non-deployment
Passenger-side airbag non-deployment or partial deployment
Passenger-side frontal and curtain airbags failed to deploy or deployed only partially during frontal and side-impact collisions. One case reported puncture of curtain airbag by vehicle component.
When: 18,000–220,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No passenger-side frontal airbag inflation in frontal crashes; Passenger-side curtain airbag punctured and only partially deployed in side-impact crash; Occupants sustained head and neck injuries without airbag protection
Curtain airbag non-deployment in side-impact crashes
Driver-side and passenger-side curtain airbags failed to deploy during side-impact collisions where they should have activated to protect occupants.
When: 217,000 miles (one documented case); other mileage unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: No curtain airbag deployment on impact with stationary object (pole) or other vehicle; Occupants suffered head, back, knee, and shoulder injuries; Vehicle damage extensive (rollover, total loss)
Airbag warning light illumination and intermittent faults
Airbag warning indicator illuminated on dashboard repeatedly at low to moderate mileage, indicating system fault. One case linked to OCR module failure; light persisted without repair in other cases.
When: 30,000; 60,000; 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Amber airbag warning light on dash illuminated during driving; Light came on and went off intermittently; No obvious external damage or crash involved
Repairs/costs cited: OCR (Occupant Classification/Restraint) module replacement cited at ~$600 plus labor in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership advised that illuminated warning light may prevent airbag deployment in collision; related recalls noted for slightly earlier production dates, but not applied to all 2010 models
Inadvertent airbag deployment without crash
Passenger-side airbags deployed unexpectedly during normal driving with no collision or impact involved.
When: 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All passenger-side airbags deployed while vehicle was being driven; No crash, impact, or triggering event reported; Vehicle taken to dealer but not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified
Airbag deployment with excessive force causing injury
Airbag deployed as designed but with force that caused serious injury to occupant. Steering wheel emblem imprinted permanently on occupant's chest; spinal and nerve damage reported.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed with extreme force during accident; Occupant knocked unconscious for 20+ minutes by airbag impact; Dodge steering wheel emblem permanently imprinted on occupant's body; Ongoing nerve damage and spinal injuries attributed to airbag force
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.