NHTSA Complaint #11082229 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY MY FRONT LEFT WHEEL FLANGE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL BEARING CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. THE TRUCK IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE HOWEVER DODGE USES THE SAME UNIT WHEEL BEARING AS ON A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. TWO WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE A CV AXLE SHAFT THROUGH THE BEARING AND SO IF THE WHEEL FLANGE SEPARATES THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE UNIT BEARING TOGETHER. TO DRAMATIZE THE ISSUE THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON MY SAME TRUCK A YEAR PREVIOUS UNDER NEAR IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE FIRST TIME I THINK PART DEFECT, THE SECOND TIME I THINK DESIGN DEFECT. IRONICALLY I HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY ONTO SECONDARY ROAD AND WAS MAKING SLOW SPEED TURNS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE WHHEL BEARING DID NOT FAIL. THE FLANGE WITH THE LUG STUDS FOR THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING. TWO TIMES, OPPOSITE SIDES ON THE SAME TRUCK.