NHTSA Complaint #11031993 — 2005 DODGE RAM 1500

09/01/2017 TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON HWY 12 IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY AT 11:30 PM WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN BETWEEN 2 JERSEY WALLS I TURNED LEFT AND HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE. (NOTE BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE HAD NO FLASHERS, FLAIRS OR ANY OTHER WARNING) WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I STARTED BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH OFF THE WALLS. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, I WAS AIRBORNE AT ONE POINT & ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I WAS FACING THE WRONG DIRECTION ON THE HWY.. I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I PROCEEDED TO WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS MISSING.I BELIEVE WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THAT'S WHEN I LOST THE WHEEL. CHP CALLED TOW TRUCK AND SAID SOLO NON INJURY ACCIDENT NO REPORT NEEDED I DIDN'T REALIZE AND NOW IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE ON A WELD AND LOOKS LIKE THERE WERE AIR BUBBLES IN THE STEEL.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH AXLE SHAFTS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLAIM. I BELIEVE THE WRECK WAS MUCH WORSE DUE TO THE AXLE SHAFT BREAKING. TRUCK IS TOTALED WITH A TWISTED FRAME. SEE ALSO 11073246