NHTSA Complaint #10253777 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, ROADS WERE WET, TEMPERATURE WAS 23 DEGREES. WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY ABOUT 40 MPH. WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH WHEN TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL SLIGHTLY. REAR OF THE TRUCK SLID SLIGHTLY TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. I TURNED THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE AND THEN STARTED TO TURN THE WHEELS BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION AS TRUCK STARTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. AT THAT POINT I FELT SOMETHING GIVE IN THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE TRUCK STARTED PULLING ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I TRIED PUSHING THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CUT THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT , JUST MISSING THE TELEPHONE POLE. MY FRONT FENDER STRUCK A STEEL POLE FILLED WITH CEMENT NEXT TO A SPLIT RAIL FENCE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS LAYING UNDER THE TRUCK, ONLY HELD ON BY THE TIE ROD END. THIS WAS BY NO MEANS A VERY BAD CASE OF SLIDING AND OVER STEERING. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD JUST SEPARATED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE UNDER. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED THIS ACCIDENT WITHOUT INJURY OR HAVING MY TRUCK ROLL OVER. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS WITH THE BALL JOINT SEPARATION AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT IS THE SAME SUSPENSION PARTS USED IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCKS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR