NHTSA Complaint #10265632 — 2005 DODGE RAM 1500

WHEN HEADING TO WORK, WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I LOOKED IN SIDEVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. AT THAT SAME TIME, I HEARD A LOUD ROARING NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE WHEEL CROSSED OVER INTO THE EAST-BOUND LANE OF THE INTERSTATE (I WAS HEADING WEST), AND THE BRAKE CALIPERS BROKE OFF. EVEN THOUGH MY BRAKES AND TIRE WERE GONE, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. ALL THIS ALSO CAUSED BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF MY TRUCK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I RETRIEVED MY TIRE AND HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I'VE NOW BEEN INFORMED THE REPAIRS CONSIST OF REPLACING THE HUB, SPINDLE, BRAKE CALIPER, ROTOR, BRAKE LINE, BRAKE PADS, AND A NEW TIRE (THE OTHER TIRE BLEW OUT) AT A COST OF $2000. I HAVE REQUESTED THE OLD PARTS BE GIVEN TO ME IN CASE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO PROCEED WITH AN INVESTIGATION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH THAT REVEALED THE 2006 DODGE RAM TRUCKS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH LUBRICATION AT THE FACTORY CAUSING THEM TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE CRASHES). BUT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS A 2005, DODGE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR