NHTSA Complaint #10567976 — 2007 DODGE RAM 2500

UPDATED FROM PREVIOUS VERSION. DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, CLEAR WEATHER, GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, LUCKILY GOING ONLY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE UP FRONT FOR TWO SECONDS THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE TIRES SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FINE BUT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE! THE TRUCK HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP HAS DEEMED THIS A WEAR AND TEAR INCIDENT, WHICH I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH. HAD I BEEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I AM CONVINCED I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND/OR MUCH MORE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. THE RING AND PINION GEAR GOT SO HOT, THEY WELDED TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEIZE AND THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. REPLACING THE RING AND PINION WILL COST $1,150. I ALSO NEED A DIFFERENTIAL OVERHAUL AT A COST OF $1,500. THE GRAND REPAIR TOTAL WILL BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2,650! WHEN HAS THERE EVER BEEN A WEAR AND TEAR REPAIR THAT WOULD COST THAT MUCH? SINCE WHEN DO WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS GET SO HOT THAT THEY WELD THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER? I JUST HAD THE DRIVELINE SERVICED 6,000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS! AND BEFORE THAT AT 60,000 MILES. I KEEP MY TRUCK MAINTAINED TO THE BOOK. IT CANNOT BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! THIS TRUCK IS PAMPERED AND NOT USED COMMERCIALLY NOR NEVER UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND TOWING A 7500 POUND CAMPER. I'M AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT. I ESPECIALLY WORRY FOR MY WIFE AND TEENAGE SON IF SOMETHING THIS SEVERE AND ABRUPT SHOULD OCCUR WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING IT IN THE FUTURE! I FEEL LIKE IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DOES THE SAME THING! SOMETHING FAULTY HAD TO OCCUR EITHER THROUGH DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR INCORRECT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I HAD THE DRIVELINE SERVICED. BUT IT'S MY WORD AGAINST THEIRS, IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE. *TR