NHTSA Complaint #10322963 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

MOST OWNERS OF MULTIPLE MODEL YEAR DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4 PICKUPS HAVE OR WILL ENCOUNTER FRONT CV DRIVESHAFT FAILURES, U-JOINT FAILURES OR HANGER BEARING FAILURES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DODGE IS COMPLETELY IGNORING AND NOT COVERING UNDER WARRANTY AS THE PART FAILURES TYPICALLY OCCUR SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL 36 MONTH WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND EVEN A CRASH. THESE VERHICLES ARE PURCHASED AND USED AS HEAVY DUTY HAULING RIGS AND MANY HAVE DIESEL ENGINES ALLOWING THE CARRYING OR PULLING OF LARGE, HEAVY TRAILERS. SYMPTOMS MAY START WITH A CREAKING IN THE FRONT AXLE AREA AND INCLUDE STEERING WHEEL CHOP UPON RETURN TO CENTER, WHICH IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS THAT WERE INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY WHICH ARE OF KNOWN POOR QUALITY. U-JOINTS SPECIFICALLY SHOULD CONTAIN A ZERK FITTING WHICH WOULD ALLOW REGULAR LUBRICATION AT MAINTENANCE INTERVALS, WHEREAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED U-JOINTS ARE SEALED AND NOT GREASABLE, WHICH FORCES THEM TO WEAR SIGNIFICANTLY AND QUICKLY, THUS ALLOWING THE PARTS TO FAIL. EVERY DODGE DEALER WITHIN 100-MILES OF MY LOCATION IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STATES IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. MANY OF WHICH AGREE THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED ORIGINAL PARTS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ARE OF THE SAME QUALITY, NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS OF MUCH HIGHER QUALITY. ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE PARTS DUE TO DEALER SCHEDULING AVAILABILITY BUT WILL BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.