NHTSA Complaint #10714473 — 2005 DODGE RAM 1500

CONTACT OWNS A 2005 RAM 1500 SLT 4.7L. CONTACT STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RANDOMLY. TRUCK WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS. TRUCK HAS HAD ONE RANDOM INCIDENT OF OVER HEATING AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT TRUCK OFF TO COOL DOWN. RESTARTED JUST FINE! PLASTIC SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN AND SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT FULLY. THEN AROUND APRIL 2014 STARTED HEARING A WHINING GRINDING,HOWLING NOISE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES OR THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE SO CALLED A REPAIR SHOP TOOK IT IN. HAD IT LOOKED AT. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED IT TO BE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION NUT BACKING OFF. REPAIR SHOP SAID THE TRUCK NEEDS THE DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED OR REPLACED. A SHORT TIME LATER, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AROUND FEBRUARY ON THE TRUCK FOR P77 & P81. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER VIA PHONE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER SAYS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS SINCE I RECEIVED THE NOTICE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND/OR OTHER'S SAFETY.*(SINCE THE PROBLEM IS, THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT ON YOUR TRUCK MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT AN ADHESIVE PATCH ON THE PINION NUT THREADS. THE LACK OF THIS ADHESIVE PATCH COULD ALLOW THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT TO LOOSEN AND/OR THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE REAR AXLE. A LOOSE PINION NUT COULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE AND A SEPARATED DRIVE SHAFT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. EITHER SITUATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITH OUT WARNING! AND THE AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE WITH METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING AND POTENTIALLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS).DEALERSHIP SAYS SHOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE.!! I DON'T SEE HOW DODGE CHRYSLER! CAN KEEP PRODUCTION/SALES OF THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES. WHEN SO MANY VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION OF THIS MATTER. *TR UPDATED 06/29/15.*JB