2002 Dodge RAM 1500

Pinion nut became loose. It was caught before it totally fell off, however if it did fall off the rear axle could possible seize up and cause loss of control of the vehicle. This is a 2002 Dodge Ram with the 9.25" rear axle and they appear to still have issues to this day with that axle model. The recall Dodge had in 2009/10 does not even begin to cover the number of Dodge Ram/Dakota vehicles with this issue. The axle in this vehicle was replaced in 2009 for another issue with an axle retainer clip falling off and causing the internal assembly to grind on the boss for the axle. So as the original owner, and with only 137,140 miles on the vehicle in 19 years, it has had multiple problems fixed under warranty, including total axle replacement and now it will have rebuilt again. There should be a real safety concern for all Dodge pickups with the 9.25" rear axle and a recall for every one of them, not just 2009/10. This has been happening for 20 years. When will NHTSA step up and hold Dodge to task for this issue. Regards, [XXX] Minden, NV INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO SEIZE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTHERN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP AT 936-634-7793 (LOCATED AT 2711 S MEDFORD DR, LUFKIN, TX 75901) AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 262,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE PINION BOLT LOOSENED AND FELL OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FRACTURE AND ALSO DETACH. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SEIZE. ROBERT GREEN CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP IN MONTICELLO, NEW YORK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SURGED FORWARD OUT OF GEAR MORE THAN ONCE WHILE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED AND FORCE WAS APPLIED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER (GILLMAN CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 10585 W SAM HOUSTON PKWY S, HOUSTON, TX 77099, (713) 776-4900) WAS NOTIFIED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH AND NEXT THING WE KNOW WE HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG AND THEN MY REAR END LOCKED UP AND ABOUT CAUSED US TO HIT THE CAR BESIDE US ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY I GOT OUT AND FOUND MY DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE REAR END SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE HAD INFORMED ME THAT MY PINION NUT HAD CAME LOOSE AND BACKED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY TORQUED I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CORPORATION OF RAM AND NEITHER WILL OWN UP TO IT EVEN THOUGH THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS A PENDING RECALL FOR MY YEAR MODEL FOR THAT PINION NUT AND THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I DO HAVE THE SAME REAR END AS THE 05 MODEL THAT DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE PINION NUT WHICH IS THE 9.25' RING GEAR CHRYSLER REAR END BUT THEY SAID SINCE MINE IS A 2002 THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT I AM STUCK WITH PAYING FOR REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED ON A TRUCK WITH 124,000 MILES AND SOMETHING THAT COULD'VE INJURED MY WIFE AND I AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF REPORTS OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ATLEAST ONCE I DON'T SEE WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL BECAUSE I SEE IT AS A HUGE SAFTEY ISSUE

WHILE DRIVING HOME A NOISE STARTED TO OCCUR WHEN LETTING OFF GAS PEDAL, GOT LOUDER THE MORE I DROVE, I DRIVE 25 MILES TO AND FROM WORK, WELL AS I WAS COASTING TO SLOW TO ENTER MY DRIVEWAY (I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY) AND THE THEN BOOM AND NO POWER REAR END LOCKED RIGHT AT END OF MY DRIVE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, FOUND DRIVE SHAFT GONE AND PINION WAS PULLED INTO DIFFERENTIAL, STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AS STATE ROUTE HAD TO DRAG TRUCK OFF OF ROAD REMOVED COVER AND FOUND REAR END CHEWED UP, MY QUESTION IS WHY IS DODGE ONLY COVING THIS REA END BACK TO 2005 AND NOT TO WHEN THEY STARTED USING IT IN 2002, GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE

TODAY AROUND 1AM COMING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS GOING 65 MPH AND I WAS COMING UP ON MY TURN.I SLOWED DOWN AND MY 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAP DID A NOSES DIVE FELT LIKE I WAS SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. TOOK THE TURN BRING IT BACK UP TO 40MPH TO SEE IF I CAN SEE WHAT IT WAS ( THINKING I HIT MY E BRAKE) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HURD A BIG BOOM AND MY TRUCK LOCK UP GOING AROUND A DIRT ROAD ALMOST GOING IN TO THE TREES, NOW MY TRUCK IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SIDE WAYS.