NHTSA Complaint #10622622 — 2005 DODGE RAM 1500

AFTER HAVING BEEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ACCELERATED TO PROCEED STRAIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET OR SO WHERE I WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A WHINING SOUND AND IT FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WAS STRAINING, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THUD AS IF I HAD RUN SOMETHING OVER. THE TRUCK STARTED "JERKING" VIOLENTLY AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE LOUD NOISE STOPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING NORMALLY AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND, TO MY SHOCK, SAW THE DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (THE TRUCK IS A REAR WHEEL DRIVE) AND LAYING ON THE STREET. LATER ON, WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION BUT THE ENGINE OFF, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SOME ROAD WORKERS TRIED TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE REAR WHEELS WERE LOCKED. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH THE RESULTS OF THE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. A RECALL NEED TO BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED... ....UPDATED 01/12/15*BF *TR UPDATED 6/11/2015*JS