NHTSA Complaint #10280816 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE (5.7L HEMI). VEHICLE PASSED WARRANTY, BEGAN TO HEAR A LOW HUM UPON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. HUM/WHINING NOISE BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE, LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR END. DODGE ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE REAR END IN THE 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 - 3500 TRUCK HAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW WHICH CAUSES THE "C" PINS IN THE REAR END TO BREAK OFF AND DESTROY THE REAR END. THIS DAMAGE HAS CAUSE SOME OF THESE VEHICLES REAR ENDS TO SEIZE UP AND OTHER TO LITERALLY SHEAR OFF THE REAR WHEELS. REPAIR CONSISTS OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR END IN THESE VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INJURIES AND WRECKS DUE TO THIS FAILURE AND BECAUSE DODGE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON ANY OF THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY. DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY, OR ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ONE OF THEIR SYSTEMS, FOR FULL OR PARTIAL REPAIR COSTS. *TR