NHTSA Complaint #10760058 — 2008 DODGE RAM 1500

ON 2/19/2015, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT AT APPROX 40MPH WHEN LOUD BANG CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK LURCHES SIDEWAYS AND PROCEEDED TO COME TO A GRINDING HALT. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. I THEN HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP, IT SHOWED THAT THE PINION GEARS WERE DESTROYED AND ALL OF THE METAL SHAVINGS CAUSE THE REST OF THE FAILURE OF THE REAR. THE RESULT WAS THE ENTIRE REAR NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING SINCE CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME ISSUE AND RECALL THE FOLLOWING MODEL YEAR OF MY TRUCK (2009) IF THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR HAD HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HIGHER VOLUME TRAFFIC, THE SAFETY RESULTS COULD HAVE MUCH WORSE OR DIRE. WITH 63K MILES, A FAILURE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE, SHOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED