Ram owners expect durability and confidence, especially when spending big on a new pickup. For Ontario resident Victor Sanchez, that expectation was not met when his 2025 Ram 1500’s airbags deployed without warning while he was driving on the highway.
What should have been a straightforward warranty claim has instead turned into a costly dispute, with Stellantis refusing to cover the damage. The incident also comes amid broader concerns around Ram’s quality control, including a recent recall of 6,605 units of the 2026 Ram 2500 due to a faulty steering module that can disable electronic stability control.
Airbags Deploy Without Warning
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
According to CTV News, Sanchez was driving his $90k pickup early one morning in February when multiple airbags suddenly deployed despite no collision. Curtain airbags and seat-mounted units went off at the same time, accompanied by a loud bang that left him briefly disoriented. He managed to maintain control of the truck, but the situation could have easily escalated into a serious accident. While incidents like this are rare and recalls usually involve airbags that don’t deploy, they raise valid concerns when they occur in a nearly new vehicle.
Stellantis Denies Warranty Claim
Ram
After taking the truck to a dealer, Sanchez expected the repairs to be covered under warranty. Instead, Stellantis concluded that the system operated as designed. Data from the vehicle suggested it detected conditions consistent with a potential rollover, which triggered the airbag deployment.
That decision leaves Sanchez facing a repair bill estimated between $15,000 and $20,000. The work includes replacing airbags, repairing seats, and addressing several interior components. With warranty coverage denied, those costs fall squarely on the owner.
Growing Questions Around Quality
Stellantis
Although a single case does not define a brand, it adds to a wider pattern. Ram has slipped below the industry average in new vehicle quality studies, recording 218 problems per 100 vehicles. In response, the automaker has moved to address these concerns by deploying 2,000 new engineers across Jeep, Dodge, and Ram, while prioritizing investment in core brands such as Ram. Still, those long-term fixes offer little immediate relief for customers Sanchez, who is left with an unusable truck and a repair bill he did not expect.
