1997 DODGE RAM 1500 Air Bags Problems

"TAKATA RECALL" TODAYS DATE 4-29-2016,I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK.I HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS COMING ON WITH MY TRUCK.IM NEEDING A REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEM ITS CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. SUDDENLY I FELT SOME SHAKING IN FRONT TIRES.I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT MY STEERING PUMP WITH OUT AND NOW THE STEERING GEAR BOX.EVERYTIME IM FINISH WORKING ON ONE PROBLEM THE NEXT IS RIGHT BEHIND.MY DASH BOARD IS FALL APART.DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES.GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY.LAST PROBLEM MY AIR BAG BLEW OUT AND BUSTED IN MY FACE.MY TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS,BUT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WITH OUT. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY RECALLS ON MY TRUCK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Mileage: 200,000

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 1997 RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK, I STOP THE VEHICLE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND STARTED TO STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS HALF WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG WENT OFF, HITTING MY RIGHT SHOULDER AS IT DEPLOYED. I AM VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT DEPLOY A SECOND SOONER. I WADDED THE BAG UP AND TAPED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TOGETHER, I GUESS THE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO. I WORRY NOW ABOUT MY FATHER, WHOM HAS A 1995 RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND I SEE THAT ONLY THE 2003 RAM 1500 AND NEWER TRUCKS FALL INTO THE RECALL, BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT MY FATHER'S TRUCK MIGHT DO THE SAME THING AS MINE DID LAST WEEK, WITH HIS BEING 2 YEARS OLDER EVEN.

Mileage: 134,368

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO LATER. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED ALL BY ITSELF. LUCKILY I WAS SITTING BACK IN THE SEAT STARTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DEPLOYED. NOW I HAVE BEEN WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. IT ACTUALLY SET FOR A LARGE PART OF ITS LIFE BECAUSE I DROVE A COMPANY VEHICLE FOR MY JOB. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE TRUCK AND TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT DODGE DIRECTLY. I CALLED DODGE AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LADY THAT ANSWERED AND THE FIRST THING SHE ASKED WAS IF I WAS INJURED. I TOLD HER LUCKILY NO BUT ME OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING. SHE FINISHED TAKING THE REPORT AND SAID SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME IN 2-3 DAYS. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DODGE ABOUT A WEEK LATER STATING THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES LISTED FOR THE TRUCK PER THE SERIAL NUMBER I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IF THEY FEEL ITS A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY ,THEY HAVE SUBROGATION RIGHTS. NOW YOU WOULD THINK DODGE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT MADE THIS HAPPEN FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS BUT MY SERIAL NUMBER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT RECALL. MY TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND I'M AFRAID THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO TOTAL IT BECAUSE OF ITS AGE.SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE THESE MANUFACTURERS STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

Mileage: 100,890

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER AN UN-RELATED SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. LATER, WHILE REVERSING FROM A SERVICE BAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHEMICALS FROM THE AIR BAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE FACE AND EYES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT JUMPED OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STILL MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V02300 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 12/09/14*LJ

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER AN UN-RELATED SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. LATER, WHILE REVERSING FROM A SERVICE BAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHEMICALS FROM THE AIR BAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE FACE AND EYES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT JUMPED OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STILL MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V02300 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 12/09/14*LJ

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V02300 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A SERVICE BAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT SENSOR CIRCUIT FAILED HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ERRONEOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

Mileage: 91,000

WHILE DRIVING 97 DODGE RAM MY DAUGHTER ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO VEHICLE SUDDEN SURGE, STALL AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I TEST DROVE IT. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS FOUND TO INCLUDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ON STEERING WHEEL COMES ON AND VEHICLE SURGES WITH RPM'S UP TO @ 2,000 BEFORE FULL STALL. CODE P0123 ON OBDII SCANNER. SENSOR REPLACED AND STILL HAPPENING. STOPPED PROBLEM COMPLETELY BY DISCONNECTING THE CLOCK SPRING CONNECTIONS. RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND MANY LISTED UNDER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, CLOCK SPRING, AIRBAG, ELECTRICAL ETC COVERING MANY YEARS AND INCLUDING INJURIES. NHTSA NEEDS TO CROSS REFERENCE THESE COMPLAINTS AND CONNECT THE DOTS AS THERE IS NO PLACE I CAN FIND TO TYPE IN THE ACTUAL COMPONENT NAME "CLOCK SPRING" WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY POOR SETUP FOR A COMPLAINT SITE. ALSO LIMITING MILEAGE TO 3 NUMBERS IS RIDICULOUS. SPEED RANGED FROM BARELY MOVING @ 2MPH TO 45MPH. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. *TR

Mileage: 197,000

I HAVE A 97 DODGE RAM THAT STARTED CRACKING AROUND 2004 AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. AS A RESULT I HAVE A TERRIBLE LOOKING INTERIOR AND I BELIEVE MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE A TESTAMENT OF THE DASHBOARDS EXPOSING MY ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE SUN. THE ONLY WAY TO HALFWAY FIX IT I'VE FOUND IS TO MOUNT FORMICA SQUARES(NOT CHEAP MIND YOU) OVER THE WHOLES WITH MOUNTING SQUARES, THOUGH IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: POWER DOOR LOCKS THAT ONLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND POWER WINDOWS THAT ONLY WORK HALF THE TIME AND A CUPHOLDER THAT HAS FALLEN OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND CAUSED ME TO RIG BACK INTO PLACE. OF COURSE BESIDES INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING A LOUSY DASH THAT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE ON A USUALLY SOUND TRUCK, I AM AFRAID OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS IT CAN BRING I.E.: WORSE ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYING WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO OR NOT DEPLOYING WHEN THERE IS NEED. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

YOUR FAULTY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

STARTED SMELLING STRONG GAS FUMES. HAD CHECKED AND FOUND GAS TANK WAS CRACKED ON TOP AND RUNNING DOWN BOTH SIDES VERY CLOSE TO EXHAUST PIPES. FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO HAVE GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. SEEMS TO ME A GAS TANK SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 7 YEARS OR BE A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY.*AK

Mileage: 5,000

BRAKE FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE SEAT BELT SAVED THE CONSUMER'S LIFE. MR PH. ALSO THE SPARE TIRE WAS BALD AND IT TOOK 3 MONTHS TO GET IT REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN SEVERE ARM BURNS. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPLODING OF THE AIRBAG. *AK *YH

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 10-12 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON GLOW AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OF NHTSA ID# 01V153000. DODGE MFG. AND THE DEALER SAYS NO RECALL ON MY TRUCK EVENTHOUGH AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. RECALL IS ON TRUCKS YR. 1996 THRU YR. 2000 AND MINE IS A YR. 1997.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AT IMPACT SPEED 30-35 MPH, HIT A POLE HEAD ON, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH DRIVER HIT A TREE AND ROLLED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT, CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

DRIVER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT 30 TO 35MPH, AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION INTO BRICK BUILDING, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY. MJS

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ACROSS AND ISLAND AND STRUCK VEHICLE SQUARELY IN FRONT CENTER AND LODGED UNDER THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND DRIVER WAS RESTRAINED BY SEAT BELT ALONE.

WHEN VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING (45) MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE GASES FROM THE AIR BAG BURNED DRIVER'S LEFT WRIST. DRIVER SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 20 TO 25 MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY . *AK