NHTSA Complaint #10468817 — 2012 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 59 IN HOUSTON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, I NOTICED A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM BELOW THE VEHICLE. I WAS EXITING 59 ONTO SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD, WHEN THE HUMMING STARTED AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD CRASH. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, TO SEE IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING AND I SAW THE DRIVE SHAFT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD, JUST NORTH OF 59 AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, BUT AS SOON AS I WAS CLEAR OF TRAFFIC THE REAR END LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. IF THE BACK END HAD LOCKED UP A MINUTE BEFORE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE EXIT FOR THE TOLL ROAD IS APPROX. 100+ FEET ABOVE THE LANE BELOW, AND WITH THE TRUCK SKIDDING OUT OF CONTROL I VERY EASILY COULD HAVE GONE OVER THE EDGE. ALSO, THE DRIVE SHAFT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WENT AIRBORNE. HAD THE DRIVE SHAFT HIT A CAR BELOW, OR NEXT TO ME THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC. *TR