NHTSA Complaint #10953738 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK LAST SUNDAY (2/5/17) ON A SMOOTH OPEN ROAD SURFACE, WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE BACK TWO TIRES SEIZED UP WHILE GOING 55MPH. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH BOUNCED AND SKIDDED AND THEN CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE I'D BEEN DRIVING IN. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. IN 2013, DODGE ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AFTER AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE PINION NUT CAN LOOSEN, CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE AND THE DRIVE SHAFT TO DETACH. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SITUATION I SUFFERED OVER THE WEEKEND, HOWEVER DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE TELLS ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND THEY'RE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH AN ANSWER EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY "UNRELATED" TO THE RECALL. OUR FAMILY IS NOW DOWN TO ONE VEHICLE, MY HUSBAND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO TO WORK THIS WEEK FOR LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE REPAIRS WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $3,000, WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD.