NHTSA Complaint #10678796 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

MY WIFE, KIDS AND MOTHER IN LAW WERE DRIVING NORTH IN MIAMI HEADING TO FORT LAUDERDALE THE TRUCK MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND THEN SUDDENLY THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS A HUGE BANG AND SMOKE ROSE FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WAS SPLIT IN 2 AND THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK AND ON THE GROUND. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ROLL AT ALL AND A FLAT BED NEEDED TO BE USED TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK TO POTAMKIN PLANET DODGE. THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE TEAR DOWN ON THE REAR AXEL SAID HE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT COULD BE REBUILT BUT I WAS CONTACTED LATER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SO FROZEN THEY COULDN'T FREE UP THE GEARS, I HAD TO BUY A NEW AXEL. THE REBUILT REPLACEMENT AXEL COST ME $4334.01. THE REASON I'M NOW SENDING THIS IN IS BECAUSE I JUST SAW THE RECALL NOTICE THAT WENT OUT FOR THE 2004 AND UP TRUCKS AND WHEN I READ THE DESCRIPTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAD SUBMITTED ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I REALIZED HOW SIMILAR EVERYONE'S STORY WAS AND THAT MY SITUATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN JUST DUMB LUCK DUE TO A SIMPLE MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE MECHANICS THAT WORKED ON MY TRUCK WERE NOT SURPRISED AT ALL AND MADE IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON FAILURE ON THESE TRUCKS AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK AT THE TIME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY DEFECT. IF MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 AXEL HAD THE SAME LOT NUMBER OR SERIES SERIAL NUMBER OR CAME FROM THE SAME FACTORY THEN THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED FURTHER BACK TO COVER ALL IMPACTED PARTIES. I OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT WAS NOT USED AS A WORK TRUCK OR ANY TOUGH DUTY TRUCK, IT WAS OUR DAILY DRIVING TRUCK AND I STILL OWN IT TODAY. I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THE TRUCK IS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN I TELL THEM. *TR