Daimlerchrysler Corporation: Air Bags
Daimlerchrysler Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on May 8, 2001 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 216,100. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.
The risk
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
19 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Dodge Ram | 436 | 14 | 9 | 59 |
| 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 | 1,112 | 3 | 35 | 65 |
| 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 | 469 | 2 | 11 | 20 |
| 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 | 130 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| 2000 Dodge Dakota | 806 | 12 | 14 | 60 |
| 2000 Dodge Durango | 1,075 | 4 | 26 | 118 |
| 2000 Dodge Ram | 147 | 11 | 6 | 31 |
| 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 | 513 | 3 | 8 | 37 |
| 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 | 211 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 | 58 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1999 Dodge Dakota | 641 | 10 | 6 | 49 |
| 1999 Dodge Durango | 1,967 | 5 | 20 | 106 |
| 1999 Dodge Ram | 366 | 13 | 6 | 46 |
| 1998 Dodge Dakota | 545 | 12 | 1 | 43 |
| 1998 Dodge Durango | 965 | 6 | 12 | 51 |
| 1998 Dodge Ram | 483 | 17 | 6 | 79 |
| 1997 Dodge Dakota | 446 | 12 | 6 | 42 |
| 1997 Dodge Durango | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 Dodge Ram | 398 | 11 | 18 | 42 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 01V153000.
Full record for the 2001 Dodge Ram → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →