NHTSA Complaint #10971769 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

I OWN A BLACK 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 4 DOOR SHORT BED WITH 146,466 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FROM NEW, ALMOST 14 YEARS. NEVER HAS A PINION NUT BACK OFF THE PINION BEFORE. WE HAD JUST GOT OFF THE MAIN HI WAY SPEED WAS 55 MPH AND TURNED ONTO A BACK ROAD SPEED WAS 35 MPH. WHEN OUT OF KNOW WERE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE BACK OFF THE TRUCK. THEN THE DRIVE LINE FELL OFF OF THE REAR END AND BANGED AROUND UNTIL I COULD GET THE TRUCK OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. WENT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE 1500 TRUCK REAR ENDS, BUT PER MY VIN NUMBER ON MY TRUCK IT IS NOT COVERED BY A KNOWN PROBLEM. ONLY THE 2005 AND 2006 1500 TRUCKS A COVERED. IT SEEMS THAT THE 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PINION NUT ISSUE AS THE 2005 AND 2006 1500'S. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT OUT COME IF WE WERE ON A FREEWAY WERE THE SPEEDS ARE ANYWHERE FROM 55 TO 75 MPH. I WOULD HOPE THE MANUFACTURER OF THESE TRUCKS WILL TAKE A LOOK INTO THE 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 PINION NUT ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING PROCESS ERROR.