NHTSA Complaint #10172730 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

ON ALL 2002-2005, AND MAYBE 2006, DODGE RAM 1500S EQUIPPED WITH THE 9.25" REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. THE RETAINING CLIPS ON THE LSD FAIL AND BEGIN GRINDING A RING INTO THE HOUSING. WHEN ENOUGH GRINDING HAS OCCURRED THE CLIPS CAN BECOME FREE DESTROYING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IN SOME CASES IT CANS CAUSE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO LOCK UP. IF THIS OCCURS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HAVE YOUR REAR TIRES LOCK UP GOING 75 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY. MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS HAVE CALLED INTO DODGE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR FAULTY LSD'S. SINCE NO ONE HAS DIED I GUESS THEY DON'T CARE. I KNOW IT IS CHEAPER TO ONLY FIX THE ONES THAT GET CAUGHT WITHIN THE WARRANTY, THEN IT IS TO FIX EVERY SINGLE 9.25" LSD ON THE ROAD TODAY BUT IT IS WRONG. I ASKED THE DODGE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE IF DODGE WOULD COVER THE DIFFERENTIAL AGAIN IF IT FAILS OUT SIDE OF THE WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD NO. I WOULD HAVE TO CALL IN A SEE IF THEY COULD DO A GOOD WILL COVERAGE. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND IT IS A WONDER, AND PURE LUCK, THAT NO ONE HAS DIED FROM HAVING THEIR REAR-END LOCKING UP ON THEM DOING 75 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. I ALSO KNOW A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH A BILL TO REPLACE THE FAILED UNIT THEMSELVES ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY. EVEN IF DODGE DOES REPAIR IT THE SAME JUNK LSD GOES RIGHT BACK IN. THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE PROBLEM TO IDENTIFY DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE IF THE DEALERSHIPS WERE TOLD TO LOOK AND DODGE HAD A BETTER ITEM TO REPLACE THEM WITH. I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET INJURED OR KILLED BY DODGE. *JB