NHTSA Complaint #10445127 — 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

AS I WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE TRUCK TO DROP ONTO THE TIRE/WHEEL. AFTER I SLID TO A STOP (WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING), I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. IT BENT THE TIE ROD, PULLED THE 4WD SHAFT APART, ETC. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK ON FRIDAY AND SAID IT WOULD BE APROX. $2K TO REPAIR IT BUT THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO LOOSE. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD, "NOTHING WE CAN DO, IT'S AFTER THE FACTORY WARRANTY". I FOUND AN ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM AND FILLED IT OUT. CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER TALKED AND AS OF 1/19/2012, THE TOTAL ESTIMATE WAS SENT TO DODGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3000.00. CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ON 1/23 AND SAID THAT THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO DROP THE PRICE BY $500 AND THAT DODGE WOULD PAY AN ADDITIONAL $500 LEAVING ME TO PAY $2000. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE TRUCK, THE YEAR, AND THE MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 56,000 MILES (I.E.-SINCE '94, I HAVE HAD OVER 300,000 MILES ON GM VEHICLES AND BALL JOINTS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED). THE TRUCK IS STILL SITTING AT THE DEALER WITHOUT ANY REPAIR DONE YET. I EMAILED CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE SAYING THAT THE OFFER STANDS AS IS. IN MY OPINION, IT IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. EVEN IF IT GETS REPLACED, OEM PARTS WILL BE INSTALLED AND I WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FRONT END FAILING AGAIN POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. ALL I WOULD LIKE IS TO HAVE DODGE/CHRYSLER PAY THE WHOLE BILL. AS FAR AS I KNOW, DODGE HAS NOT LOOKED AT PICTURES THAT I HAVE PROVIDED NOR HAS A FACTORY REP. LOOKED AT THE TRUCK. I'M TO A POINT WHERE I WANT TO TRADE THE TRUCK IN AS IS FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND. *TR