NHTSA Complaint #10579149 — 2010 RAM 1500

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE. AS WE APPROACHED A DOWNHILL SECTION AND MY HUSBAND TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS THE NOISE WENT AWAY, BUT CAME BACK LOUDER AS SOON AS HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. INSTANTLY THERE WAS A BIG BOOM AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SWERVING WITH THE BACK END JACK KNIFING ON THE ROAD WHILE BOUNCING/BUCKING LIKE MOTION GIVEN THE TIRES FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE ALSO LOCKED UP. WE COULD FEEL AND HEAR SOMETHING UNDER THE CAR BASHING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE WERE NO ONCOMERS FORTUNATELY AND MY HUSBAND DID MANAGE TO STOP THE VEHICLE JUST SHORT OF THE GUARDRAIL AND GOING OVER THE RAVINE. THE CAR WAS STILL HALF IN THE LANE .. HORIZONTAL TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HE TURNED ON THE HAZARDS AND I JUMPED OUT, IT WAS DARK WITH NO LIGHTING ON THE ROAD AND HARD TO SEE UNTIL THE CAR BEHIND US STOPPED TO SEE IF WE WERE OK AND SAID OUR DRIVE SHAFT HAD DISCONNECTED. WE REMOVED OUR 2 YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THEIR CARSEATS, WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE MEN TRIED TO MOVE THE TRUCK OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT THE TIRES WERE LOCKED. WE CALLED 911 FOR THE POLICE TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN A SAFER PLACE TO STAY OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS WE HAD A TOW TRUCK COME OUT TO BRING THE CAR TO THE NEARBY DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE CAR, INFORMED US IT WAS PART OF A RECALL BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT IN STOCK. THEY DID NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE TO US AND WE ARE STILL AWAITING WORD ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AT ALMOST A WEEK AFTER THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. FOR ME THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT, UNDERCARRIAGE AND ALL EQUIPMENT/COMPONENTS OF THE VEHILE, TIRES WHICH WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME WEAR AND LOW ON AIR ARE ALL NOW COMPROMISED. *JS