NHTSA Issues “Do Not Drive” Warning for 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Trucks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed another Takata airbag rupture fatality, the first due to an exploding passenger-side inflator.

The incident is also the first to involve a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, which was one of the 385,686 vehicles recalled for airbag repairs in 2015. NHTSA estimates roughly 84,000 of these pickup trucks are unrepaired, and occupants of these unrepaired vehicles are at grave risk of serious injury or death.

According to the NHTSA alert, “If you have one of these vehicles, DO NOT DRIVE it until the recall is completed and your defective air bag is replaced. The fatality brings the total number of confirmed Takata fatalities in the United States to 26. It is imperative that ALL vehicle owners check now for open Takata recalls, and get the repair done as soon as possible if their vehicle is under recall.”

“The older a defective Takata air bag inflator gets, the more dangerous it becomes. Please, get your air bag replaced now for your sake, and for the sake of those who love you,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson. “Don’t put yourself or someone you love at risk of dying or being seriously injured because of a defective, recalled Takata air bag. These repairs are absolutely free and could save your life.”

NHTSA is urging all vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall. If it does, owners need to contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer.

Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries. Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, as the age of the air bag is one of the contributing factors.

Vehicle owners who prefer talking to the manufacturer directly can call the manufacturer’s Takata Call Center at 833-585-0144 or go to the manufacurer’s website for contact information.

Additionally, for Takata information for specific vehicle manufacturers, owners can click here to visit the NHTSA site. For more general information from NHTSA on the Takata air bag safety recall, please click here.

Use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool to check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any open safety recalls, including the urgent Takata recall. Or, download the NHTSA SaferCar app and let it check automatically for you. If your vehicle does have a safety recall, call your automaker’s local dealer to schedule the free recall repair.

Sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts to be notified by email if your vehicle is affected by a future recall.

If you think your vehicle may have a safety defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA. Contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.

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