YearToAvoid

2018 Ram 1500 Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 19 of 661 complaints (3%) filed against the 2018 Ram 1500. The overwhelming pattern is non-deployment during real crashes, including 11 crashes and 16 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 28,000. Three separate recalls (25V592000, 25V010000, 21V632000) cover side curtain airbag inflator defects on this model year.

Airbags complaints
19
3% of 661
Crashes reported
11
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
16
Median mileage
28,000 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Front airbags fail to deploy in moderate-to-high-speed frontal or head-on crashes, including collisions at 40 mph, 55 mph, and 60 mph.
  • Side curtain airbags fail to deploy when the vehicle is T-boned or struck on the driver's side pillar.
  • Airbags do not deploy in single-vehicle accidents such as hitting ice patches, guard rails, fences, or road debris, even when the driver's face or upper body strikes the steering wheel.
  • Some owners report no dashboard warning lights before the crash, meaning there was no indication the airbag system had a fault.
  • One owner reported a fire that started while the truck was parked, which an adjuster linked to a possible wiring harness issue near the airbag system.
  • Owners note that in some crashes the other vehicle's airbags deployed while their Ram 1500's did not.

When 2018 Ram 1500 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 19, 2019, latest Mar 3, 2026.

2018 Ram 1500 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2019Mar 2020Mar 2021Jan 2023Jul 2023Sep 2024
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2019 to Mar 2026; peak Sep 2019 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2018 Ram 1500

  1. NHTSA 25V592000Sep 11, 2025Airbags1,761 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

    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 September 25, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 83C, 91C, and 92C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 18, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 25V010000Jan 16, 2025Airbags6,066 vehicles

    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: 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.

  3. NHTSA 21V632000Aug 12, 2021Airbags212,373 vehicles

    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: 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.

Airbags complaints by 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20090 (0%)
  2. 201394 (7%)
  3. 2014125 (7%)
  4. 201561 (4%)
  5. 201647 (3%)
  6. 201753 (6%)
  7. 201819 (3%)
  8. 201991 (6%)
  9. 202020 (3%)
  10. 202127 (4%)
  11. 202212 (2%)
  12. 20236 (3%)
  13. 20244 (5%)
  14. 20256 (2%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2018 Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 19 airbag complaints for the 2018 Ram 1500, which is 3% of the 661 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2018 Ram 1500?
Yes. Three recalls cover airbag issues on the 2018 Ram 1500: campaign 25V592000, campaign 25V010000, and campaign 21V632000, all involving side curtain airbag inflators that may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
What is the most common airbag complaint for the 2018 Ram 1500?
The most common complaint is that the front or side curtain airbags did not deploy during a crash. NHTSA data shows 11 crashes and 16 injuries tied to these airbag complaints.
At what mileage do 2018 Ram 1500 airbag problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2018 Ram 1500 is 28,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.
Does the recall require owners to stop driving the truck?
No. NHTSA lists all three related recalls (25V592000, 25V010000, 21V632000) as not requiring owners to stop driving or park outside.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.