2008 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR. THE FIAT CHRYSLER WEBSITE CLAIMS THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE AND SHOULD CONTACT A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NOT ANY PARTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THERE WILL BE ANY PARTS.

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

WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHETHER UNDER A LOAD OR NOT, USING SUSTAINED HIGHER RPM'S THE STEERING WHEEL WILL FREEZE UP AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING AVAILABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE MUD PULLING A TRAILER, IN SNOW NAVIGATING A LITTLE HILL AND NOW ON THE INTERSTATE ENTRANCE RAMP! TWICE JUST CHANGING LANES GOING AROUND 30 MPH! THE TWO LITTLE TIMES I KNEW TO LOWER THE RPM'S VERY QUICKLY AND OBSERVED A LOUD POP NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LET LOOSE. ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE I CAME SO CLOSE TO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE THE STEERING CAME BACK. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS. ALL THEY SAID WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. I DUPLICATED IT THE VERY NEXT WEEK. ALONG WITH COLD WEATHER STALLING AT RED LIGHTS. I DO NOT THINK THEY LOOKED AT IT OR TOOK IT SERIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DID THIS IN THE MUD AND SNOW I AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A ROCK LODGED INTO THE WHEEL BUT THEN LATER REALIZED IT FROZE UP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND CRASHED UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MA 10/19/2015 *CN

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, A FAILURE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE, SHOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED

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".

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALLS AND 2013 I HAD TIE ROD PUT ON AND THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME FOR THE TIE RODS. THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN BUY BACK PROGRAM MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH THE RECALLS. *TR.... .UPDATED 08/18/15 *BF ACCORDING TO THE VIN, THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 MODEL.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP I LOSE ALL STEERING FROM A VIOLENT VIBRATION. I HAVE TO SHOW DOWN TO 30 MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC CHANGED GAS CAP, DID NOT FIX. PRESSURE TEST - GAS TANK LEAKING ON TOP. REPLACED GAS TANK ON 8/10/2015. WE KEPT THE TANK JUST IN CASE SOMEONE WANTED TO INSPECT IT.