When it comes to vehicle safety, even a small component failure can lead to major consequences. That’s why Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has just announced a recall for a group of its 2018 Ram trucks. The issue involves the side curtain airbags, which may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. Roughly 1,761 units of the Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 are affected by this recall, and while no accidents or injuries have been reported, Stellantis isn’t taking any chances.
What Models Are Impacted? –
The recall targets select 2018 Ram 1500 (DS), 2500 (DJ), and 3500 (D2) trucks. Production records show these vehicles were built between May 21, 2018, and June 26, 2018, using inflators that may have been compromised during manufacturing.
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Ram 1500 (DS) – approximately 666 units
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Ram 2500 (DJ) – approximately 870 units
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Ram 3500 (D2) – approximately 225 units
That brings the total to just under 1,800 trucks. Stellantis notes that other Ram trucks built outside this specific timeframe aren’t included, since their airbags came from unaffected parts batches.
What’s The Problem? –
The root of the issue lies in the side curtain airbag inflators, supplied by Joyson Safety Systems out of Auburn Hills, Michigan. According to Stellantis and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents, the inflators may have been exposed to moisture during production, which, over time, can lead to internal corrosion. This corrosion increases the risk of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) inside the inflator housing.
If the inflator cracks under pressure, it could rupture when the airbag deploys. In that worst-case scenario, sharp metal fragments could be blasted into the cabin, creating a serious risk of injury to occupants.
Recall Chronology –
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March 14, 2024 – FCA US LLC filed recall 24V198 (19B) covering 2018–2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The recall addressed side curtain airbag inflators that could rupture due to moisture introduced during supplier manufacturing. Over time, this moisture could cause internal corrosion and lead to Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). The affected vehicle population was identified based on available field data at the time of the recall decision.
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January 15, 2025 – FCA US filed recall 25V010 (05C) for 2016–2020 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles for the same inflator concern. Moisture during production could cause corrosion inside the inflator, increasing the risk of SCC and rupture. The population was determined based on field data available at that time.
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August 12, 2025 – The FCA US Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) group opened an investigation into a limited number of 2018 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks after receiving additional field input suggesting a potential inflator rupture.
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August 12–27, 2025 – TSRC worked closely with the inflator supplier to review the incident. The investigation confirmed that certain vehicles had been built using inflators from a suspect production lot where moisture may have been introduced during manufacturing, leading to possible internal corrosion and SCC.
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September 4, 2025 – FCA US reported it had received one customer assistance record, one field report (related to the same incident), and no warranty claims potentially connected to this issue. All reports were dated between June 23, 2025, and August 1, 2025. At that time, no accidents or injuries had been identified in connection with the defect.
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September 4, 2025 – Based on the findings, the FCA US Vehicle Regulations Committee determined that a safety defect existed in certain 2018 Ram trucks, leading to the decision to issue this recall.
Dealers will replace one or both side curtain airbags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on October 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA’s numbers for this recall are 83C, 91C, and 92C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 18, 2025.
Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-888-275-9171), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
