NHTSA Complaint #11194530 — 2016 RAM 2500

ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 26, 2019 I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN I HEARD A RUBBING NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS AN INDICATOR THAT MY BRAKES WERE WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED. I VISUALLY INSPECTED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND NO LEAKING FLUIDS, OR DEBRIS CAUGHT BETWEEN MY ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 27, 2019 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A METAL ON METAL SOUND. I WAS UNSURE IF THE SOUND CAME FROM MY VEHICLE OR A PASSING VEHICLE. AS I GOT AT OR AROUND 2 MILES FROM THAT LOCATION MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK BEGAN VIOLENTLY BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THIS MALFUNCTION HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND UP THE EXIT RAMP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND EXAMINED UNDERNEATH FOR ANY FLUIDS OR ANY OTHER SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION. AS I WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE I OBSERVED MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS CANTERED OUT AND UP AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I HAVE AFTER MARKET WHEELS AND TIRES, HOWEVER THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THE VEHICLE SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2018. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOHN JONES RAM IN CORYDON IN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED MY CALIPER, ROTOR AND SPEED SENSOR. IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE NEVER HAD A WHEEL BEARING FAIL SO QUICKLY AND CATASTROPHICALLY. AS A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER I HAVE DRIVEN A MULTITUDE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND IT TOOK ALL OF MY ABILITY TO KEEP FROM LOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2016 RAM 2500 WITH ABOUT 56,000 MILES.