In 2021, Chrysler (FCA) recalled more than 212,000 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks built between 2015 and 2020. Some factory-installed side airbag inflatable curtains (SABICs) might contain water, which could lead to sudden rupture. A Florida couple with a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 visited a local dealership the same year. At the time, though, they were told replacement parts were unavailable. Fast-forward to September 2024, and the turn of events are certainly sobering.

“We heard a really big boom over the weekend, and it was so loud it sounded like a gigantic limb fell on the roof,” Jackie Clark told Action 9 News. She says that after looking around, they figured the noise was related to space activity. After all, they live in east-central Florida.

The next time they went to drive the Ram 1500, though, they found it damaged beyond comprehension. The back headliner was torn apart, and mangled roof metal twisted down into the cabin. The roof had a hole in it above the rear passenger seat…where their 18-month-old grandaughter sits in her child safety seat.

The right rear SABIC ruptured. The force exploded into the cabin and through the truck’s roof. This was the same airbag identified under the 2021 recall, which remained outstanding.

“We had no reason to know that it could be so extreme.”

Clark says that when they reported the damage to the automaker, which is now Stellantis, the company sent an email stating that the OEM was only responsible for replacing the recalled part and would not cover any other damages.

In a statement to Action 9, Stellantis said that the parts have been readily available since May 2023 and that the Clarks were given at least one notice. The automaker said that more than 85,000 truck owners completed the recall to date.

Stellantis also said it will offer the couple a discount on a new pickup.

Still, more than 100,000 Ram trucks need new airbags

Clark says that this turn of events should serve as a call to action for other Ram owners with outstanding airbag recalls to quickly address them.

“The fact of the matter is that it blew a hole in the roof of the back seat. And imagine what it could do to a human being,” she said.

You can read the formal safety report for this recall below. The NHTSA has an easy-to-navigate recall search page. Ram (or any other model) owners can use it to determine whether their vehicle has an open recall. You can also call a local dealership with your VIN.