NHTSA Complaint #11499484 — 2016 RAM 1500

Traveling at hwy speeds the vehicle lurched as if the brakes were suddenly slammed on then removed. Speed was reduced to 60 mph, no sounds or vibrations noticed so began accelerating back to hwy speeds. RPM kept building but speed was not increasing as normal. Within a few seconds loud banging under the vehicle was heard and half the drive shaft came out the back flipping end over end down the hwy. The shaft struck the grill of a jeep following me but no damage was seen upon inspection. The truck came to a relatively calm stop on the side of the road. Both halves of the drive shaft were recovered, one from the middle of the road, the other about 20 yards into the ditch. Rear diff was spilling fluid. All casings and covers seemed to be intact. Towed to Dealer, inspected and they said best they figure is the axle seized up, destroyed the diff, and shaft. They do not believe the transmission or transfer case were affected but can't be sure until new rear assembly and shaft installed. No one was injured in this event, although if the speed and height of the axle shaft flipping end over end down the hwy into the jeep was different serious injury could have occurred. Additionally, if a component of the rear assembly came off the truck could have come to a violent stop.