NHTSA Complaint #10779528 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. ON SEPT 14, 2015 I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. MY TRUCK STOP MOVING CAUSING ME TO APPLY THE BRAKE. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THERE WAS A PERSON WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT AND INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR END WAS LEAKING FLUID. I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST IN A PARKING SPACE AND APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK I SEEN THE FLUID POURING OUT. AT THIS TIME I CALLED AAA AND HAD A TOW TRUCK SENT TO THIS AREA. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE DRIVER WAS LOADING THE TRUCK ONTO THE FLAT BED AND THAT'S WHEN MYSELF AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SEEN A SILVER DOLLAR SIZE HOLE ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PUMPKIN JUST BELOW THE DRIVE SHAFT. I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND LET HIM KNOW I WOULD BE SENDING THE TRUCK TO HIM FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED ME ON SEPT 15, 2015 AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PINION SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE GEAR AND THE HOLE I SEEN WAS THE SHAFT TRYING TO COME THROUGH THE HOUSING. MY MECHANIC STATED IN HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT THE WAY THIS SHAFT SNAPPED OFF CLEAN. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS (KILLED). I WAS ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 7MPH THROUGH THE PARKING LOT., HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE ENDED FATAL FOR ME OR ANYONE TRAVELING NEXT TOO ME. BEING THAT THIS SHAFT WAS ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF DAMAGE TO A STEEL HOUSING MOVING AT THIS LOW RATE OF SPEED.