NHTSA Complaint #10512479 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE NEGOTIATING SOFT RIGHT TURN, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING, BANGING NOISE, THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD LET GO. GOT HOME 2 MINUTES LATER. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING NOISE THAT STOPPED WHEN I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. FROM THEN ON, I NOTICED A ROARING/HUMMING THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HEARD THE LOUD POPPING/BANGING/SCREECHING A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. MINIMIZED DRIVING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO LOCAL DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED HUB FAILURE. DROVE A COUPLE OF MILES TO TRUSTED INDEPENDENT GARAGE. HAD LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED. GARAGE OWNER SURPRISED I MADE IT TO HIS SHOP WITHOUT THE WHEEL LOCKING AND COMING OFF. LOOKING AT INTERNET, THE HUB PROBLEM SEEMS VERY COMMON ON DODGE PICKUPS (RECALL ON 2006 MODELS). MANY COMPLAINTS REPORTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES AFFECTING MODELS FROM 2002-2009, WITH MOST OCCURRING AROUND 53000 MILES. SEVERAL CRASHES REPORTED DUE TO WHEEL SEPARATIONS FROM HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILURE AND LOCKUP. *TR