NHTSA Complaint #10553985 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING SATURDAY, 11/23/2013, I NOTICED A VIBRATION AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR WOULD CROAK OR MOAN. I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE MY BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY SPONGY AND HAD TO BE PRESSED IN FULLY IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I BEGAN TO HEAD HOME WITH THE TRUCK AS I DID NOT WANT A SAFETY HAZARD WHERE I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IN ORDER TO STEER STRAIGHT, I HAD TO HOLD MY STEERING WHEEL APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES LEFT. UPON GETTING THE TRUCK HOME I IMMEDIATELY SAW MY PROBLEM. MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS SITTING IN THE WHEEL WELL ON AN ANGLE. LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE WERE POURING OUT OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND RUBBER GOO WAS LEAVING A TRAIL WHERE I DROVE. I JACKED THE CAR AND REMOVED THE WHEEL, AND COULD SEE EVEN MORE. MY WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED AND BROKEN. THIS CAUSED MY TIRE TO SIT ON THE HUB CROOKED AND LEAN AGAINST MY CONTROL ARM. THE HEAT FROM THIS FRICTION WAS SO INTENSE THAT IT MELTED MY CV BOOT, WHICH IS WHY I HAD A RUBBER GOO TRAIL. IT ALSO MELTED THE ABS SENSOR ON THE WHEEL HUB ITSELF. CAUSING MY ABS TO GO OUT. THE HUB ITSELF HAD A PIECE COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF, AS IF A WELD BROKE. THE HEAT ALSO WARPED MY ROTOR, AND CRACKED MY BRAKE PADS IN THAT SIDE. LUCKILY, I DID NOT HAVE ANY WHEEL SEPARATION OR TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, CAUSING CRASH OR INJURY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO UTILIZE BRAKING AND DRIVE HOME AT ABOUT 20MPH WITH HAZARDS ON. THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN RECALLED IN SEVERAL YEAR DODGE RAM 1500S, INCLUDING 2004, 2006, AND OTHERS, FOR BEARING ISSUES. HOWEVER DODGE CLAIMED IT WAS ONLY A FAULTY PART IN 2WD APPLICATIONS. NOW WE KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE. I HAVE A 4WD RAM THAT HAD THE HUB ASSEMBLY FAIL AND A PARTIAL BRAKING FAILURE. I AM OUT OF ROOM, BUT I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PARTS BROKEN ON THE CAR, AND PICTURES OF THE REMOVED PARTS AS WELL. *TR