2008 DODGE RAM 1500 Power Train Problems

Was driving home going 35 the rear end spider gears decided to lock up completely cause loss of control of my vehicle

My rear driveline separated from the rear differential causing the rear differential to seize up. It is available for inspection. This occurred while driving down a highway at 45 MPH, there was some humming noise then it shook for a second and then load pop sound and send me fish tailing down the highway and then sliding sideways being stuck blocking the lane of traffic. I just contacted the dealership, and they cannot look at it under a recall situation because my vin is not listed on the preexisting recall. I was told to contact the manufacturer directly. As of today 11/26/25, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps or messages. Symptoms were only morning of the incident 11/24/25 after leaving my house halfway down the road approximately half a mile I started to hear a slight humming came to...

missing 2 bolts on drive shaft almost had a accident

The cv axle on the passenger side has gone out 3 times in the last 6 months. That's not just coincidence. And there is no extreme driving conditions or unnecessary turning going on.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION FELL INTO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TACOMA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (253-475-7300, LOCATED AT 4101 S TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. *TP

REAR END MADE LOUD WHINING NOISE AND KNOCKING BEFORE THE DRIVESHAFT BECAME COMPLETE DISCONNECTED AND THE REAR END SEIZED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED-EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE COVERED UNDER NHSTA RECALL # 13V-038.

WE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT ALONG WITH THE EVAPORATOR BOX ON THE GAS TANK WENT FLYING OUT THE [XXX] OF THE TRUCK. IT LIFTED US OFF THE GROUND PUT A WHOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND THE TRUCK COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF WE DIDN'T GET IT STOPED IN TIME SO IT DIDN'T SPARK. OUR HOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED THAT DAY! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS NOISY AFTER BEING REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN, LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT HAD DETACHED FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT, CAUSING THE FAILURE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

08 RAM 1500 DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED FORM DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING REAR END TO LOCK UP AT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE FORCING ME TO THE CURB SECOND TIME HAD REAREND REPAIRED THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED VEHICLE IS NO A A WRECKER YARD FOR ANYONE TO INSPECT WILL NOT REPAIR TILL IT IS CHECKED BY NHTSA

THIS VEHICLE HAS GIVEN ME MANY PROBLEMS AND MOST RECENTLY VERY DANGEROUS ONES. A FEW MONTHS AGO ON MY WAY TO WORK AROUND 4AM THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE OFF AND FLEW OUT AT 75 MPH. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC DURING THAT TIME AND THE BACK PART OF THE DRIVE SHAFT IS THE ONE THAT BROKE OFF NOT THE FRONT SO THE TRUCK DIDN'T FLIP OVER. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THEN. NOW A FEW DAYS AGO MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND IT TURNED OFF ON HER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS WORKING OUT OF TOWN. ON MY RETURN I FOUND THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ON AT THE DASHBOARD. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS TYPICALLY IN RELATION TO A BAD FUEL PUMP RELAY. I FOUND THIS TO BE MORE THAN COMMON ON MANY DODGE VEHICLES AND OBVIOUSLY...

REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH NEARLY WENT OFF ROAD

DRIVING STRAIGHT IN TOWN AT 30 MPH WHEN REAR-END LOCKED UP. WITH NO WARNING, NO SOUNDS, NO GRINDING, SQUEALING, OR SHIMMYING, THE TRUCK SKIDDED ABOUT 20 YDS BEFORE THE DRIVESHAFT LITERALLY RIPPED IN HALF, WITH BOTH HALVES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. PINION BEARING ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR AFTER FEELING SOME GRINDING AND HEARING SOUNDS, BUT HAS RUN SMOOTH AS BUTTER SINCE. I HAD MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION AT TAKE TEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO. REAR END REMAINED LOCKED UP WITH DRIVESHAFT REMOVED (OBLITERATED) WHEN THE TOW TRUCK GOT THERE. GLAD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, OR MYSELF AND 7 YEAR OLD SON MAY HAVE NOT SURVIVED.

THE DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, DUE TO THE PINION NUT LOOSENING, AND THE REAR AXLE LOCKED UP. THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A TOWN ROAD, WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

I WAS PULLING MY 19FT. BOAT, AND I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, AND I HIT THE GAS. THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE REAR END AND A LOUD POP. I LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END, AND I NOTICED THAT THE REAR END WAS LEAKING AT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE REAR WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. THE REAR END LOCKED UP. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS WENT OUT. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 34,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME THE REAR END WAS MAKING GROUNDING SOUNDS BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER THE ORIGINAL SERVICE WARRANTY. WHEN THEY TOOK THE REAR END APART, THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THIS TIME THE TRUCK NOW HAS 94,000 MILES. BOTH DIFFERENTIALS ARE CURRENTLY AVERAGING 45,000 MILES EACH.

I WAS DRIVING AND I STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE TRUCK DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. SO I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY REAR END WAS MESSED UP. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS, REAR WHEEL SEALS AND ALL THE BEARINGS IN THE REAR END. THEN AFTER ALL THAT WAS FINALLY FIXED I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I START TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE AGAIN SO YET AGAIN I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND YET AGIAN THEY TELL ME THAT THE REAR END IS MESSED UP. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MY TRUCK WAS UNDER RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM . MY ENTIRE REAR END IS MESSED UP BECAUSE OF THIS AND I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE MECHANICS HAD NO IDEA THAT IT...

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE REAR END LOCKED UP CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO TWIST IN HALF AND THE TRANSFER CASE TO BUST INTO PIECES. THE TRUCK SPUN OUT OF CONTROL INTO A DITCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THERE ARE RECALLS ONLINE FOR OTHER YEAR MODELS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR 2008. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PINION GEAR.

THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MULTIPLE DODGE CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE BREAKS EASILY, AND THE PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE USA. THE CABLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REDESIGNED FCA/RAM FOR THE 5TH TIME, WITH A ONE MONTH OR GREATER TIME FRAME UNTIL THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEALERS.

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE LOCK-UP AND THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS CAUSE MY TRUCK TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRES NEARLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. I WAS ON THE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY. 20 MORE FT AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR TIRES SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE SCRAPING NOISE AND INTENSIFIED IN ABOUT 2 MILES OF DRIVING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WITH VIBRATION SOUNDING LIKE A ECO INSIDE THE CABIN FASTER YOU GO LOUDER IT GETS THEN WHILE IN MOTION THE TRUCK MADE A LOUDER SOUND AND FELT LIKE THE TRUCK MOVE BACK FOR 2 SECONDS AND KEEP THEN MOVING FOWARD STILL THE LOUD NOISE I TOKE IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP TO BE CHECK AND THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL HAS METAL ON IT LIKE A METAL WAS LOOSE INSIDE I TOLD HIM TO STOP SO I CAN CHECK FOR RECALLS AND CALL THE DEALER ONLINE THEY SHOW THAT THIS KIND OF ISSUES HAPPEN BEFORE AND THAT THE TIRES CAN LOCK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR PUT SOMEONE IN DANGER PEDESTRIAN PASSENGER OR DRIVER IS A RECALL FROM CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER...

REAR PINION NUT CAME LOOSE AND DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF AND TRUCK MADE ABRUPT STOP REAR END LOCKED UP

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X2 WITH APPROX 81450 MILES. WHILE SERVICING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, FOUND METAL PIECES STUCK TO THE MAGNET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. NO NOTICABLE INDICATIONS OF FAILURE PRIOR TO SERVICE. VEHICLE DELIVERED TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO'S SERVICE ADVISOR EXPRESSED THEY DON'T SEE MANY OF THESE FAILURES. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OF THE DAMAGE THAT THE "C" CLIPS WHICH HOLD THE LSD IN PLACE HAD FAILED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AFTER REPAIR THE SERVICE TICKET STATED "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME". SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO STATED THAT THE MECHANIC THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE REPAIR OF REAR DIFFERENTIALS HOWEVER, I SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER THE "LIMITED LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY".

ON 2/19/2015, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT AT APPROX 40MPH WHEN LOUD BANG CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK LURCHES SIDEWAYS AND PROCEEDED TO COME TO A GRINDING HALT. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. I THEN HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP, IT SHOWED THAT THE PINION GEARS WERE DESTROYED AND ALL OF THE METAL SHAVINGS CAUSE THE REST OF THE FAILURE OF THE REAR. THE RESULT WAS THE ENTIRE REAR NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING SINCE CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME ISSUE AND RECALL THE FOLLOWING MODEL YEAR OF MY TRUCK (2009) IF THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR HAD HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HIGHER VOLUME TRAFFIC, THE SAFETY RESULTS COULD HAVE MUCH WORSE OR DIRE. WITH 63K MILES,...

AFTER READING MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS I HAVE, I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF DODGE/CHRYSLER/FIAT DID THE SAME AS GM. THAT IS, INTENTIONALLY PUT CUSTOMERS IN HARMS WAY FOR PROFIT DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. I HAVE A "08" 4X4 EXT. CAB TRUCK, THAT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST PUT THIS TRUCK IN "D", OR GO THROUGH THE GEARS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN I BUMPED IT ACCIDENTLY WITH MY KNEE. REALIZE I ONLY HAVE ONE KEY ON MY KEY RING, SO IT'S NOT A WEIGHT ISSUE SIMILAR TO GM'S IGNITION PROBLEMS. I DO HAVE A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS THAT I'M SURE WON'T BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE OR THE LOCAL DEALERS BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES AND IS A USED VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED A BOUNCE IN THE FRONT END WHEN I MAKE A...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WAS NEEDED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V796000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE PINION NUT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WITHIN A WEEK THE KEY WOULDN'T GO INTO THE IGNITION AND ONCE IN WOULDN'T COME BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY LOCKING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL NOW DOESN'T GO OFF AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT OFF MY SELF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATES! THIS WENT ON BACK AND FORTH A GOOD EIGHT TIMES BEFORE BOTH SHUT OFF. MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS (MOSTLY RIGHT BUT CANNOT REALLY SEE THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING) THE LIGHTS SHAKES AND BOUNCES WHEN I GO OVER ANYTHING UNEVEN. UPON COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP THE TRUCK PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO SWERVE INTO THE GRASS. THIS VEHICLE JUST DOESN'T DRIVE RIGHT. THE WHOLE FRONT END SEEMS LOOSE. I CANNOT DRIVE OVER 50 OR THE REAR END COMES OFF THE GROUND WHEN I BRAKE TO MAKE MY TURN. I'M TAKING IT...

I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE OF VERY HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN MY TRUCKS 4-WHEEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED TO FLASH AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, MY TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD CRUNCHING GRINDING NOISE AND WITHIN SECONDS MY TRUCK HAD SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NOW IN A PANICKED STATE OF MIND NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, I SOMEHOW WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, GOT MY TRUCK ACROSS THE LANES OFF TRAFFIC AND OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY TRUCK WAS NOW STUCK IN 4 WHEEL LOW. I HAD TO DRIVE AROUND 10 MILES HOME WITH THE TRUCK IN THIS CONDITION, DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH MY FLASHERS ON. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY DODGE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE TRUCK MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING IT TO SHIFT...

VEHICLE DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB AT APPROXIMATELY, 10:30 PM EDT, WHILE DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH LIMITED TRAFFIC BUT A CAR IMMEDIATELY BEHIND MY IN THE RIGHT LANE, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN (AGES 11,15). REAR OF VEHICLE WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY A STRONG PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE. OTHER CAR SLOWED AND SWERVED TO AVOID MY VEHICLE. ANY ACCELERATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. ATTEMPTED TO SAFELY DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE NOT PERFORMING AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED. A FEW MORE LOAD THUMPS (2-3) OCCURRED. LOOKED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SPARKS FLYING BEHIND VEHICLE. DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME BUT THE DRIVE SHAFT COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED WITH MY VEHICLE AND WAS SENT BOUNCING THROUGH TRAFFIC. APPROXIMATELY, 3-5 CARS INITIALLY AVOIDED IT. SAFELY FOUND A WIDE SHOULDER...

PINION NUT CAME OFF, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND NEAR COLLISION, I SENT THE LETTER BELOW TO CHRYSLER, WITH NO RESPONSE. OCTOBER 12, 2013 CHRYSLER CORPORATION: I HAVE OWNED 5 DODGE RAMS, A 95,98,99,2006,2008; THE 2008 WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY... UNTIL I NEEDED IT. AFTER 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (CHRYSLER SERVICE NOW TELLS ME THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED WITHIN A 30 DAY WINDOW OF ITS 5TH BIRTHDAY TO PRESERVE THE WARRANTY. WHO KNEW THIS? LIFETIME MEANS LIFE-TIME, RIGHT? MY DIFFERENTIAL JUST SUFFERED FROM A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE PINION NUT BACKED OFF AND THE PINION GEAR WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE RING GEAR AT 60 MPH, BLOWING OUT THE CAST IRON HOUSING, THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT AND I NEARLY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. BENNY BOYD OF LAMPASAS TEXAS HAD REBUILT THE DIFFERENTIAL A YEAR PRIOR TO THE 5 YEAR...

I AM CONCERNED WITH THE REAR PINION RETAINING NUT PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT ON THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE AN EXPANDED RECALL AS I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE MY REAR DIFF LOCK UP OR EXPLODE INTERNALLY IF ITS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED. *TR

FRONT OUTPUT SHAFT(AXEL) ON TRUCK FAILED AT 68,768 MILES REPLACED WITH OEM PART, FRONT SHAFT FAILED AGAIN AT 92,440 MILES REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH WHEN MY 4WL LITE FLASHED,I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND MY TRUCK JERKED VIOLENTLY, I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO 30MPH RIGHT AFTER THE LOUD NOISE. I THEN HAD TO GET ACROSS TWO LANES OF SPEEDING FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. AFTER I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALMED MY NERVES, I DID DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND DISCOVERED THAT MY TRUCK HAD SHIFTED ITSELF INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW AT 70 MPH. I LIMPED MY TRUCK HOME, STUCK IN FOUR WHEEL LOW, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO MY DODGE DEALER. ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER AND NUMEROUS TRIPS BACK TO VARIOUS DEALERSHIPS TO GET THIS WARRANTY WORK FIXED, AND OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED AND CHRYSLER CONSIDERS THE CASE...

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT LOOSENED ITSELF OFF CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO DROP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD BOOM AND LOOSE CONTROL WHILE ON THE FREEWAY LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME. CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 RAM 1500 TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 27, 2008, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2011. THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN THAT TIME FRAME ON JULY 2, 2008 AS A 2008 MODEL BUT I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THEY CONTACTED IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL AND GAVE ME A QUOTE FOR $6000 TO FIX. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 70 M.P.H. THE REAR END MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WITHOUT WARNING SEIZED UP AND STARTED GRINDING EXTREMELY LOUD CAUSING MY REAR END TO LOCK UP AT 70 M.P.H. ALMOST CAUSING A PILE UP. I AVOIDED A COLLISION BY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE LANES AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO THE FIRST PARKING LOT I COULD FIND RIGHT AT THE EXIT. WHEN I DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG ODOR OF HOT OIL AND WOULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THE REAR END WAS DESTROYED. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE DODGE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2008 YEAR TRUCKS HAVING A REAR END FAILURE SINCE THEY HAVE RECALLS ON EVERY YEAR TRUCK EXCEPT 2008. NOW SINCE NONE OF THIS WILL BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER I...

THE TRUCK STARTED HOPPING AND SKIPPING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER HAVING IT LOOKED AT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FULL OF METAL GEAR TEETH AND FILINGS. *TR

I HAD BAD VIBRATION START IN THE REAR END A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE. WENT TO TIRE SHOP THINKING IT WAS A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE. ONE WAS, YET VIBRATION STILL THERE. LEFT TIRE SHOP TO TAKE TO MECHANIC, AS I GO TO LEAVE PARKING LOT I ACCELERATE AND A BIG BOOM,THEN NOTHING. THE YOKE ON REAR END IS STILL CONNECTED TO DRIVESHAFT YET IT'S DANGLING OUT THE FRONT OF AXLE AT ANGLE. UPON HAVING TOW TRUCK BRING THE TRUCK HOME, I PULLED THE COVER OFF REAR AXLE TO FIND THE NUT HAD BACKED OFF THE PINION SHAFT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, EVERYTHING I'VE RESEARCHED SHOWS 2009 MODELS MFG FEB 27 2008 THRU WHENEVER ARE COVERED, YET MY 2008 MFG MARCH OF 2008 ISN'T. I DISABLED AND LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. I CANNOT AFFORD $800 OR MORE TO FIX. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 KIDS IN THE TRUCK . PROBLEM STARTED WITH MY SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH THEN SUDDENLY FELL TO 0 AND STAYED THERE. I THEN STARTED TO SMELL A FOUL SMELL RESEMBLING NATURAL GAS. MY ABS LIGHT, E BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK NEAREST EXIT AND PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. TURNED TRUCK OFF THEN BACK ON AND ALL LIGHTS WENT AWAY BUT SPEEDO STILL NOT WORKING. CONTINUED DRIVING TO GET IT HOME THEN THE TRUCK STARTED SURGING WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS BUT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS. DECIDED I NEEDED TO PULL OVER AGAIN. I PROCEEDED TO THE TURNING LANE GOING 35PMH WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND STARTED FISHTAILING AND SPINNING TILL IT CAME TO A STOP. LUCKILY CARS AROUND ME SWERVED AROUND ME TO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AXLE PINION NUT BECAME LOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000. ...UPDATED 01/07/15 *BF UPDATED 05/29/2015 *JS

AT 1750 DRIVING IN THE 4TH LANE TO THE LEFT OF A 5 LANE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEADING WEST I SUDDENLY FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND, THE REAREND OF THE TRUCK LIFTED UP INTO THE AIR. I WAS OUT THE WINDSHIELD LOOKING DOWN AT THE PAVEMENT AND THE REAREND SWUNG LEFT TURNING THE TRUCK 180 DEGREES INTO THE MIDDLE LANE OF 5 LANES, NOW FACING EAST INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER FINALLY ARRIVED HE ASKED ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I DESCRIBED THIS EXACTLY TO HIM ADDING THAT I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND THE VEHICLE THAT STRUCK ME DID NOT STOP. THE OFFICER WALKED AROUND THE TRUCK AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAREND OF THE TRUCK. THEN THE OFFICER LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND STATED THE POWERTRAIN WAS LYING ON THE PAVEMENT UNATTACHED AT THE REAREND..UPDATED 06/25/14 *BF UPDATED 06/30/2014 *JS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PLUG BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED LUBRICANT TO SPILL ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE ISSUE BECAME APPARENT AS ENTRY INTO A CURVE BEGAN. THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE (2008 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500) BECAME LESS RESPONSIVE WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF VIBRATION. AS THE CURVE IN THE ROAD STRAIGHTENED OUT A LOUD POP CAME FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR AXLE AREAS. WITCH ALSO CREATED A LARGE UNCONTROLLABLE BODY ROLL AND SWAY. HOWLING NOISE IS GREATLY APPARENT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WITH THIS ISSUE THE VEHICLE FEELS UN-SOLID AND CONSTANT BODY ROLL FEELS AS IF YOU WERE TRAVELING ON A BOAT. MANY ITEMS RECALLED ON OTHER DODGE VEHICLES DURING SAME YEAR, BUT NOT ON THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION, HAVE THE ABILITY TO CASE THE SAME ISSUES. THIS COULD CREATE A TRAGIC AND CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE IN THE VEHICLE OF FAILED PARTS OR THE FAMILY NEXT TO THEM ON THE ROAD. "DRIVE SAFE, BECAUSE TODAY COULD BE THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY SHIFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE THE SHIFTER WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

PINION NUT ON REAR DIFF CAME OFF CAUSING LOSS OF DRIVESHAFT DAMAGING TRANSFER CASE AND GAS TANK. *TR

TRUCK STALLS OUT FOR NO REASON. TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND AT LOWER SPEEDS. LOOSE POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. I HAVE SINCE CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY. TRUCK STILL STALLS. *TR

STARTED TO DRIVE AND THE REAREND LOCKED UP LUCKILY NO SPEED THIS TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 24TH 2008 SAME TIME AS THE 2009 MODEL RECALL. *TR

MAJOR RUSTING ISSUE WITH 2003-2008 DODGE RAM TRUCKS. THE DESIGN OF THE BED TRAPS WATER BETWEEN THE TRUCK BED BODY PANELS, CAUSING THEM TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. A VEHICLE THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED SHOULD NOT RUST LIKE THIS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY EVERY BODY SHOP I'VE GONE TO VISIT THAT DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX. DODGE HAS HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST WITH THEIR 2ND GENERATION TRUCKS. THE DODGE RAM CRACKED DASH, AND BAD TRANSMISSION ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, IN SOME STATES A VEHICLE WITH RUST IS NOT ALLOWED ON PUBLIC ROADS. THIS FORCES OWNERS TO FIX THE RUST THEMSELVES WHICH CAN RANGE FROM $500- $3,000. *TR