NHTSA Complaint #10618369 — 2004 DODGE RAM 3500

I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I-87 IN NEW YORK STATE AT 65 MPH WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUNDING LIKE A GRENADE GOING OFF OCCURRED UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS. MY PASSENGER AND I THOUGHT THE PARTS UNDER THE TRUCK WERE GOING TO EXPLODE THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS UNDER US. THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE OF EXPLODING PARTS. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO COST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF OIL ON THE PAVEMENT, WIRES WERE HANGING UNDER THE TRUCK, FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES WERE RIPPED, DRIVESHAFT DAMAGED. I NOTICED THEN THAT THE DASHBOARD 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE FRONT HAZARD LIGHTS WORKED BUT NOT THE REAR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF ONE OF TWO THINGS...A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE TRANSFER CASE CLUTCH OR A COMPUTER SYSTEM GLITCH THAT CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWITCH INTO 4 WD AT HIGH SPEED. THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND I WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND THAT THE PARTS DID NOT BURST THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK ALTHOUGH THEY DENTED IT. *TR