NHTSA Complaint #767523 — 2001 DODGE RAM 2500

APPROXIMATELY 4 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, HEAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND NOTICE THAT A BRACKET ON THE BRAKING ASSEMBLY WAS GRINDING INTO THE MAG WHEEL. EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE, A SIGNIFICANT GOUGE WAS MADE IN THE THE SOFT METAL OF THE WHEEL. I PUSHED THE BRACKET BACK IN PLACE AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE "ANTI RATTLE BRACKET" AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLE HAD RUSTED TO THE BRAKING ASSEMBLY. EVERYTIME I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE, IT MOVED OUT UNTIL IT WAS GRINDING ON THE MAG WHEEL. THE BRACKET WAS GRINDING ON THE WHEEL LIKE A LATHE, PEELING OFF THE METAL OF THE WHEEL. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE CONTINUED GRINDING WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLE. NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE DODGE CONSUMER COMPLAIN REPRESENTIVE THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY BIG ISSUE. AT THIS TIME, I FEEL THAT THE SAFTEY OF THIS TRUCK IS A STAKE AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT IS NOT RESOLVED. *AK