NHTSA Complaint #10295537 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

2004 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4, 68,000 MILES, NOT COMMERCIAL USE, NEVER USED FOR TOWING, NEVER USED TO PLOW SNOW, NO MODIFICATIONS MADE EVER, DRIVEN ON PAVED HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS, AND NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. ON DECEMBER 11TH 2009 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A SMOOTH PAVED ROAD WHEN A HUMMING BEGAN IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. IN A MATTER OF 1-2 MILES THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING HARD AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I CHECKED THE SUSPENSION THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE PASSENGER FRONT HUB BEARING WORN OUT AND SEVERELY LOOSE. I COULD ROCK THE TIRE 1/4 INCH EACH DIRECTION. UPON INSPECTING THE HUB THERE WERE NO DARK SPOTS INDICATING GREASE HAD LEAKED OUT. I DISASSEMBLED THE FRONT HUB AND FOUND IT BONE DRY OF GREASE AND RUINED. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME BEARING ASSEMBLY, OR VERY SIMILAR, AS THE 2006 RAM 1500S. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN WITH ONLY A MINOR HUMMING BEFORE SEVERE VIBRATION, WHEEL DRAG, AND ALMOST A LOSS OF STEERING. THE COST OF PARTS ALONE COST ME APPROXIMATELY $185 AT AN AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE AND $350 AT CHRYSLER. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER INSTALLED THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE BEARINGS IN ALL THE 04,05,06 AND POSSIBLY NEWER RAM 1500 PICKUPS. NHTSA SHOULD ENFORCE THIS RECALL THROUGH CHRYSLER ON ALL 04,05, AND 06 MODELS BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS. BELOW IS THE 2006 RECALL. 2006 DODGE RAM 1500 UNITS AFFECTED: 86333 RECALL NUMBER: 07V038000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MAY HAVE RECEIVED AN INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF GREASE DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD RESULT IN BEARING DEGRADATION, AND IF SUBSEQUENT NOISE AND VIBRATION ARE IGNORED, COULD RESULT IN HUB ASSEMBLY SEPARATION. THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT HUB AND BEARING UNITS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-140. *TR