general problems of the 1996 Dodge Ram 2500

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, the air bag warning light suddenly activated, and moments later the front driver’s side air bag erroneously deployed. During the failure, the driver sustained various facial injuries and injuries to the nose. The contact also sustained an injury to the right arm which required medical attention. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 330,000.

Tl-the contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while making a turn in his driveway, the driver's air bag deployed. As a result the contact sustained shoulder, arm, jaw and head injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 291,000. Oo.

Symptoms: air bag warning lamp illuminates randomly, horn sounds intermittently, cruise control has stopped working. A casual search of the internet shows these three symptoms occur quite frequently on Chrysler/Dodge and Plymouth vehicles. The cause is a faulty clockspring. The risk is having the airbag disengage, I. E. Will not deploy. Chrysler has issued recalls for a number of vehicles for this defect, the problem is they refuse to repair many more vehicles that have this safety defect. Chrysler claims a bad installation at certain plants, problem is the defect occurs on many more vehicles then recalled made at other plants. Cost is in the hundreds of dollars to repair. User repair is not advised since the airbag must be removed.

Airbag system triggering mechanism under seat was replaced and no cover was installed due to interference of seat. Stated to be careful not to get anything under seat, or airbag could deploy prematurely. Problem cannot be remedied. Problem still exists.