NHTSA Complaint #11709765 — 2015 RAM 1500

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned: The vehicle’s airbag restraint system failed to deploy during a severe single-vehicle crash. This includes the front airbags and any associated crash sensors. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: The failure of the airbag system significantly increased the risk of serious injury. Due to the airbags not deploying during a high-impact collision with a fixed object (tree), the driver sustained a serious head injury. Proper airbag deployment could have reduced or prevented the severity of the injury. Confirmation or reproduction of the problem: At this time, the issue has not yet been reproduced or formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Investigation is pending. Vehicle or component inspection: The accident has been documented by law enforcement and insurance representatives. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, but is available for inspection. Insurance evaluation is in progress. Warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms: There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms indicating an airbag or restraint system malfunction prior to the accident. No airbag warning indicators were illuminated before the crash. If applicable: UNKNOWN whether any fault codes were present prior to the accident. Description of incident: The crash occurred at night in heavy fog conditions. While traveling around a curve, the driver encountered an oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane and took evasive action to avoid a collision. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The impact caused significant damage to the entire vehicle. Despite the severity of the collision, no airbags deployed. The driver sustained a serious head injury that may have been mitigated had the airbag system functioned as designed.