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2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

crash1 injured · 810526 · 2010-08-29

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM QUAD CAB
Year
2003
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Miles at failure
42,500
Speed
45 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

ON AUGUST 2, 2010, IN THE EARLY EVENING, MY SPOUSE, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB AND HIT A STANDARD SIZE STEEL STREET SIGN, A STANDARD GAUGE GUIDE WIRE FOR A TELEPHONE/POWER POLE, AND FINALLY THE TELEPHONE/POWER POLE ITSELF. THE IMPACT OF THIS CRASH DESTROYED THE TRUCK. THANKFULLY, MY WIFE WAS WEARING HER SAFETY BELT, AND SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE GUIDE/SUPPORT WIRE HAD EMBEDDED ITSELF INTO THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT. AMAZINGLY, NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS INCIDENT. AS THE POWER POLE HAD BROKEN IN TWO, THERE WERE LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRES AT THE SCENE. EMERGENCY CREWS TOOK NEARLY 7 HOURS TO CLEAR THE SCENE AND RESTORE POWER AND CABLE TO A LOCALIZED AREA. SHE HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN A SSE DIRECTION ON HESPERIA AVENUE IN VICTORVILLE, CA AT APPROX. 45 MPH. THE WEATHER WAS IDEAL FOR ROAD TRAVEL: CLEAR, DRY, WINDLESS, WITH TEMPERATURE AROUND 95 F. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL-MAINTAINED AND HAD APPROX. 42,200 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER AND FOUND PRIOR INSTANCES OF SIMILAR AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENTS IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. IN MY OPINION, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE TOO FEW, AND'OR POORLY LOCATED, AND'OR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSORS ON THIS AND OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. THIS IS NOT A TOTAL CONDEMNATION OF CHRYSLER OR THE DODGE RAM. WE ENJOYED THIS TRUCK VERY MUCH FOR OVER 7 YEARS. WE ASSOCIATE MANY HAPPY MEMORIES WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS IS A GLARIN

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10352592
Machine
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