NHTSA Complaint #10376852 — 2004 DODGE RAM 2500

MY DIFFERENTIAL HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN MY 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT AT 48K MILES (MAY 2008) (COVERED BY WARRANTY) AND THE SECOND TIME AT 137K MILES. BOTH TIMES THE FAILURE BEGAN WITH A WINDING SOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL,THEN FOLLOWED BY DIFFEREMENTIAL SLIP. IF NOT CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL BEGIN RATTLING BEFORE COMING APART. THE POTENTIAL HARM IS THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL CAN LOCK UP WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE REPAIR ACTION IS TO REPLACE ALL BEARINGS AND GEARS IN THE DIFFERETNTIAL $1800). I DO NOT TOW ANYTHING WITH THIS HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DODGE AND THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS COMMON. I HAVE ONLY 1K MILES ON THE 2ND REBUILT DIFFERENTIAL AND I ALREADY HAVE TO TAKE IT IN FOR WINDING AND SLIPPING OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. I HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR 28 JAN 2011 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN. *LN