NHTSA Complaint #11015690 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE. WITHIN THE NEXT 3 MILES THE TRUCK MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE, THE TRUCK LURCHED AND LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND HAD BEEN ROTATING, BANGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE PINION NUT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE PINION GEAR. THE SPLINE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL'S PINION GEAR WAS ASKEW AND FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. THE TOWING SERVICE INDICATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE LOCKED AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT ROTATE AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED ONTO A FLATBED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO CONDUCTED REPAIRS CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR AXLES WAS LOCKED UP AND THE DIFFERENTIAL WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD. THIS SITUATION MIRRORS THE NHTSA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE14-019 AND LINKED TO CHRYSLER'S RECALL P77 / NHTSA 14V-796, WITH THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT THIS OCCURRED ON A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 NOT A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. THE 2004 DODGE RAM WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE SAME TIME FRAME AS THE 2005 DODGE RAMS IN THE RECALL (JANUARY 28, 2004 - AUGUST 3, 2005), JUNE 2004. IN ADDITION THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES BETWEEN THE 2004 AND 2005 DODGE RAM 1500S ARE INTERCHANGEABLE.