2016 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 48owner reports
- 33,980median miles
- 31involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
48 of the 1,544 complaints on this car describe airbag.
Tick what matches of 48 reports
Airbag on other 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
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.
The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
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).
All 17 recalls on the 2016 Ram 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the 1500
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
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.
What owners wrote
“I hit a tree head on dodging a deer going between 35 and 40mph and none of my air bags deployed.”
Filed Sep 28, 2026
“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
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 31 of 48 reports involved a crash and 44 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 278 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 235 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 138 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 97 reports
- Diesel fuel system or injector problems 80 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 68 reports
- Fuel pump failure 50 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 44 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 37 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 36 reports
- Vehicle fire 35 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 31 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 29 reports
- Delay or no response when I press the gas 27 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 26 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 25 reports