NHTSA Complaint #11144131 — 2010 RAM 1500

DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND A WHIRRING STARTED IN THE REAR END. ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I WAS COASTING, NOT WHEN GAS WAS APPLIED OR BRAKES. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND SEVERAL STOPS THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. I WAS COASTING DOWN HILL ON A TWO LANE ROAD AS THE NOISE GOT VERY LOUD. FIRST THERE WAS A CLUNK AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING UNDERNEATH, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE MUFFLER. THERE WAS NO WHERE TO STOP ON THE ROAD SO CONTINUED TO COAST. LESS THAN 5 SECONDS LATER ANOTHER CLUNK AND THEN IT WAS QUIET, PIECE HAD FALLEN OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD BUT VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. ESTIMATE FROM DEALERSHIP IS TO REPLACE DRIVE SHAFT AND WHOLE REAR END ASSEMBLY, $6200. ONLY EXPLANATION GIVEN WAS THAT A U-JOINT BROKE AND FELL OFF. DRIVE SHAFT FALLING OUT DAMAGED WHOLE REAR END ASSEMBLY.