NHTSA Complaint #11020611 — 2006 DODGE RAM 2500

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY AND ON OUR WAY TO THE BEACH AND SUDDENLY THE TRUCK VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL ALMOST TO THE SHOULDER WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WE TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT IT WON'T RUN, THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF THE TRUCK AND WAS LYING ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR WHEEL WAS LOCKED. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE DRIVING EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC, IF NOT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAVE 4 PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK TOWING A BOAT AND MY WIFE IS 3-MONTH PREGNANT. WE WERE THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS A SHOULDER THERE FOR US TO REACT IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS WE GOT BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR BABY OR OURSELVES IF THERE WERE A LOT OF TRAFFIC MOVING FAST. USUALLY A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. WE WAITED ALMOST 5 HOURS FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO COME, AND HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP TO TAKE US HOME. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO AAMCO NEARBY AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 12 DAYS WAITING FOR THEM TO ORDER PARTS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE U-JOINTS WERE BAD AND NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY THAT CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FELL AND DESTROYED THE WHOLE REAR END BOTTOM. THE REPAIR COST IS ALMOST $2000. FROM MY RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM IN DODGE RAM, AND DODGE HAD A RECALL ON THIS BUT ONLY ON CERTAIN MODELS AND YEARS AND OURS IS NOT INCLUDED WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, TO PREVENT A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED A DODGE DEALER AND THEY JUST SAID IT'S CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR, BUT WEAR AND TEAR SHOULDN'T BE A REASON IT CAN CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT.