Diagsheet

2016 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light or recall

  • 47owner reports
  • 33,980median miles
  • 30involved a crash

Newest report Jun 25, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

47 of the 1,534 complaints on this car describe airbag.

Tick what matches of 47 reports

15
5
18
3

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (15 reports) and the module (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

3 recalls on the airbags cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

25V-010Jan 16, 2025
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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
Remedy: 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.
21V-632Aug 12, 2021
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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: 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.
17V-302May 9, 2017
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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the rollover side curtain air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a crash that necessitates activation of these safety systems.
Remedy: 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.

NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the 1500

EA19-001opened Apr 19, 2019
Airbags · model years 2009

Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 12,430 and 60,600 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.

216
817
618
719
220
521
522
223
124
825
126

What owners wrote

“Vehicle was in a front end collision and the air bags never deployed. Approximate speed 40-45 mph”

Filed Jun 25, 2026

“The service airbag system keeps alerting me. Some vehicles have been recalled but my vehicle has not been recalled and I would like that to be taken care of.”

Filed Nov 21, 2025

“Driver hit a tree at 55mph, air bags did not deploy, insurance company determined vehicle was total loss, and body shop (Caliber Collision at 3061 US-42 Delaware OH 43015, phone # 740-430-2869) questioned why the air bags did not deploy.”

Filed Sep 5, 2025

“Dealer wants $7259.20 to repair 2 air bags Is this a recall item? Truck start leaning to one side and is lope sided. We noticed that there are recalls on other 2016 Rams 1500 trucks and now we are having this problem. We would appreciate your help. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

Filed Aug 18, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 30 of 47 reports involved a crash and 43 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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