NHTSA Complaint #10864183 — 2011 DODGE RAM 1500

AT 53,283 MILES A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS TIRE NOISE, BUT DETERMINED IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE REAR END DRIVE POWER TRAIN. AT 53,383 MILES I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE DEALER'S COMMENTS: "CUSTOMER STATES:C/S: C/S THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, MIGHT BE THE BARINGS. WENT ON ROAD TEST WITH SEAN F. HE CONFIRMED THERE IS A NOISE, POSSIBLE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND ITS SPEED RELATED. CHECK AND ADVISE OBSERVATIONS: VERIFIED NOISE FROM REAR END TEAR DOWN REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO DETERMINE FAILED COMPONENT. OBSERVATIONS: PINION BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR OF GEARS REBUILD REAR DIFFERENTIAL -$2,591.00." IF THE REAR END GEAR BOX HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 TO 75 MPH) IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE LED TO INJURIES OR DEATH. THIS COMPONENT FAILED AT 53% OF ITS DESIGN LIFE - 100,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS FIVE MONTHS BEYOND ITS 5 YEAR CALENDAR WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT WELL WITHIN ITS DESIGN RELIABILITY FOR SAFETY OF 100,000 MILES. I HAVE REQUESTED ALL PARTS BE PROPERLY MARKED AND TAG ALONG WITH ANY MAINTENANCE CHECKLISTS, PROCEDURE DOCUMENTS OR MANUFACTURER GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS USED IN CONDUCTING THE DIS-ASSEMBLY, INSPECTION, REPAIR AND RE-ASSEMBLY BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE RECORD.