Dodge recall 15V312 covers 385,686 2003 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks for passenger air-bag inflator rupture. Do not drive. Free repair at Ram dealers.
If the passenger frontal air bag deploys in a crash, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin. This raises the risk of serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the recall repair is complete. Ask the dealer about towing if it must move. Repair is free at any franchised Ram dealer.
Dodge is recalling 385,686 2003 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 trucks under recall 15V312 because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can rupture when the air bag deploys. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Do not drive these trucks until a Ram dealer completes the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The passenger-side frontal air bag inflator in the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 is the metal canister that fills the air bag during a crash. When the crash sensor commands deployment, the inflator creates gas fast enough to open the passenger air bag between the occupant and the dashboard. That fast pressure rise has to stay controlled inside the inflator body.
On affected trucks, the Takata SPI inflator can build excessive internal pressure when the passenger air bag deploys. Takata tied the rupture risk to several years of exposure to persistent high absolute humidity. If the inflator body ruptures during deployment, the passenger air bag does not deploy as designed and the abnormal deployment increases the risk of injury to the occupant.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator, so a normal-looking air bag cover or an unlit warning light does not confirm that the truck is clear.
Who's affected?
Covers the Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 from the 2003 model year, all tied to the passenger-side front air bag inflator.
| 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 | front air bag |
| 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 385,686 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the passenger frontal air bag deploys in a crash, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin. This raises the risk of serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the recall repair is complete. Ask the dealer about towing if it must move. Repair is free at any franchised Ram dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 2500, or Ram 1500 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the truck until the passenger frontal air bag repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the truck must be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Ram dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag replacement that fixes the rupture-prone inflator.
- Bring the recall notice if Dodge has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V312 when you call.
- Call Dodge customer service at 1-800-853-1403 with questions and reference recall number 15V312.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the truck until the recall repair is complete. At the dealer, a Ram technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag covered by campaign 15V312. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. This repair applies to the original passenger frontal air bag and to replacement service air bags installed after prior crash repairs. If you already paid out of pocket for this same air bag repair, the reimbursement program asks for the original receipt or other proof of payment so the company can confirm the expense.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 26, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| June 24, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 16, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 31, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V312?
Recall 15V312 covers 385,686 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 trucks with a passenger frontal air bag inflator defect. In a crash with air bag deployment, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants. Ram dealers replace the passenger frontal air bag for free.
What should I do if my 2003 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 2500, or Ram 1500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 15V312. If it is, do not drive the vehicle. Call a franchised Ram dealer, reference recall 15V312 or Chrysler recall R26, and ask how to arrange the free passenger frontal air bag replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. For recall 15V312, Ram dealers replace the passenger frontal air bag free of charge, including parts and labor.
What does 'do not drive' mean for this Dodge Ram recall?
Do not drive the truck until a franchised Ram dealer completes the passenger frontal air bag replacement. The recall involves an inflator that can rupture during deployment. If the truck has to move, call the dealer first and ask about towing or other handling instructions.
What if I bought my Dodge Ram used?
The free repair still applies. Recall repairs follow the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to see whether your 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2500, or Ram 3500 is included, then call a franchised Ram dealer and reference recall 15V312.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V312000 |
|---|---|
| Dodge customer service | 1-800-853-1403 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V312 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V312000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →