NHTSA Complaint #11023296 — 2012 DODGE RAM 3500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND TOWING A 2017 WOOD DECK TRAILER FMCW-11000-20S, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE FLOORBOARD. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE SEPARATED AND BLEW UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS HUBCAP FELL OFF. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT WERE GONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KING CITY CHRYSLER CENTER (1603 BROADWAY ST, MT VERNON, IL 62864 (618) 242-6600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED, THE AXLE WAS COMPROMISED, AND THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, TRANSFER CASE, ENTIRE FRONT AXLE, FUEL LINES, TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS, SHIFT CABLE, AND TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,900.