NHTSA Complaint #10704490 — 2008 DODGE RAM 1500

VEHICLE DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB AT APPROXIMATELY, 10:30 PM EDT, WHILE DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH LIMITED TRAFFIC BUT A CAR IMMEDIATELY BEHIND MY IN THE RIGHT LANE, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN (AGES 11,15). REAR OF VEHICLE WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY A STRONG PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE. OTHER CAR SLOWED AND SWERVED TO AVOID MY VEHICLE. ANY ACCELERATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. ATTEMPTED TO SAFELY DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE NOT PERFORMING AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED. A FEW MORE LOAD THUMPS (2-3) OCCURRED. LOOKED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SPARKS FLYING BEHIND VEHICLE. DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME BUT THE DRIVE SHAFT COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED WITH MY VEHICLE AND WAS SENT BOUNCING THROUGH TRAFFIC. APPROXIMATELY, 3-5 CARS INITIALLY AVOIDED IT. SAFELY FOUND A WIDE SHOULDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE WHILE COASTING. LOUD BANG OCCURRED AS VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOPPED. I CHECKED ALL 4 TIRES BECAUSE INITIAL THOUGHT WAS A TIRE BLEW OUT. ALL TIRES WERE INTACT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE REPORTING ENGINE ISSUE. NOTICED STRONG SMELL OF AUTOMOTIVE OILS/GREASE. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW A "THREADED STEM" STICKING OUT OF REAR AXLE WITHOUT ANY THING ATTACHED. NOTICED DRIVE SHAFT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE. TOOK PICTURES OF THE AREA AND WAITED FOR AAA. I DID ATTEMPT TO WALK BACK A LITTLE WAYS TO SEE IF I COULD LOCATE THE DETACHED DRIVE SHAFT BUT I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING IT. *TR