NHTSA Complaint #10550247 — 2013 RAM 1500

2013 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE REAR AXLE SHEARED OFF, AND THE BRAKE CALIPER BROKE OFF, AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. THE WHEEL AND TIRE WERE PUNCTURED BY THE CALIPER BRACKET, AND WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AGAINST THE FREEWAY CEMENT CENTER DIVIDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT SOME GEARS EITHER IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OR TRANSFER CASE BROKE BEFORE THE AXLE SHEARED OFF OF THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS NOISY AND LOCKING UP, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO NOISY AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. HE ALSO STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE AND HAD EXTENSIVE VIBRATION. THE TECHNICIAN BELIEVED THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS CAUSED BY SOME TYPE OF GEAR FAILURE. THE BROKEN AXLE SHOWED STRESS FRACTURES/CRACKS DUE TO POSSIBLE METAL FATIGUE. THE DEALER STATED THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER.