When accelerating from a traffic light, the rear differential pinion snapped in half, causing the vehicle to roll backwards. After rolling back, the rear wheels locked up. I understand this to be a common failure with this vehicle, and had the failure occurred a few seconds earlier at highway speed this could have caused a serious collision.

- Buchanan, NY, USA

My truck started making a noise in the drive shaft area, on my way home as I was turning off the highway and my speed lowered, I felt something drop and truck jerked and something was dragging. I immediately pulled of road and put vehicle in park at which time it gave a small jerk. Once I got out of the vehicle and looked under it I could see the driveshaft laying on the ground. The rear differential pinion nut had came off.

- Muncie, IN, USA

After just getting off the freeway. I was driving along going about 30 mph, when I heard this noise coming from the rearend of my vehicle. I pulled of the road and noticed little drops of oil leaking from the rack and pinion area. I got back in my truck to go home and next thing I noticed the rearend of my truck locked up and the driveline fell off. I had my truck towed to midway Chrysler in postfalls Idaho. It took over 2 weeks for them to fix everything. On the way home I was on the freeway and noticed the rearend was shaking and vibrating. I took it back and they noticed they put the old driveline back on instead of the new one they ordered for my truck. I had them replace the pinion seal on the truck, because it was leaking oil again after all that shaking. The only thing they could say was sorry, things happen.

- Hayden, ID, USA

I am requesting the NHTSA explore the power train issues affecting the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Driver was on highway driving at 60mph when truck starting making a whining and grinding sound which continued for about 1 mile before truck started to run funny. Driver slowed down and moved to the right lane when there was a big bang and a cloud of black smoke came from back end of truck. At the same time the rear end of the vehicle locked up and truck went skidding off the road. When driver examined car found that the entire drive shaft rod and transfer case were laying underneath of vehicle along with multiple other pieces of hardware. The transmission was also locked up and unable to release even in the neutral position. When the Dodge dealer looked into the incident they stated a " pin fell out of the drive shaft and backed up into the rear causing the pin to jam the transfer case". this incident resulted in a complete rebuild of the entire power train system. We would like to see a guide rail made mandatory for Dodge vehicles as this rod fallout could have resulted in a flipped vehicle. Furthermore less than 4 weeks later while driving same vehicle at 15 mph the truck started to shake violently and had to be towed because of a shredded bolt in the rear stabilizer bar that connects the rear to the axle. Vehicle once again to dealer who claims it is all due to the initial issue.

- Horsham, PA, USA

Heard a clunking and whining sound while driving. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud sound really loud, the rear end locked up and white smoke was filling up the air behind my truck. I had to wait for a car to pass. The pounding became super loud. I was in the fast lane and the truck jerked, I tried merging to the right lane and as I did that, I could barely control my steering wheel. My truck started to slide sideways down the highway. Later, once the truck stopped sideways on the highway approximately 150 ft, I realized the loud thud was my drive shaft, it disconnected from the rear differential and hit the ground. The truck almost flipped over and I was on a bridge. My truck was then pushed by a highway patrol car out of traffic and later onto a tow truck because it could not be moved. The drive shaft was laying on the ground. Oil was pouring out of rear differential. (pics available) once at the Dodge dealer, I was told that the pin in the drive shaft had fallen off and a large portion of it was not there anymore (probably still on the highway). Once that broke off apparently it stuck in the rear axle which locked up my back tires. At first they asked me if I had a rear differential check up lately. I explained that they serviced my car last and would be the ones to know if it needed it. Then I did research and found so many others with same truck and same exact problem. It was scary and glad I didn't have my family in the car when it happened. My lower back is still in major pain, I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon and now on 3 different pain meds- and out of work. What a mess!

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

While driving the rear end locked up and drvie shaft came unattached from rear end. Vehicle was not able to roll and was towed to dealer for evaluation. After initial evaluation from dealer other isues noted were at least the transfer case was damaged.

- Claremore, OK, USA

I heard a whining sound while driving about 40mph, decided to get off busy street to investigate. As I approached the turn lane (slowing to about 5mph) the rear end locked up. I heard a lot of rattling and then a kerplunk as smoke started coming from underneath the truck. The "kerplunk" was my drive shaft, it disconnected from the rear differential and hit the ground. My truck had to be dragged out of traffic and onto a tow truck. I don't know what caused the failure but it was scary. Im glad I was not on the highway, especially because my 3 yr and my 1 yr girls were with me.

- Pueblo , CO, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, there was a loud noise as vehicle abruptly. Stopped accelerating without warning.the rear wheels also seized when the failure occurred. The contact saw that the rear driveshaft was detached from the vehicle. The rear differential had also seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but the exact failure was unknown. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate current and failure mileage was 34,000.

- Galena, OH, USA

Rear wheels locking up -- possibly due to a problem with the vehicles' differential. Broken pin? this needs to be fixed asap! if I was on the highway there could have been fatalities.

- Vaughan, CA, USA

Rear differential failure. Pinion bolt came loose causing the entire rear differential/rear end to lock up as I was driving. My truck would not accelerate nor move in neutral after the pinion bolt came loose.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact was driving 35 mph when the drive shaft detached from the rear axle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 71,200 and the current mileage was unknown.

- Tomball , TX, USA

I was driving home when I started hearing a whining/grinding noise from under the truck it continued for about 2 miles growing louder and louder. I realized something was very wrong with the truck so I slowed down and pulled into the turning lane, just as I did the rear end locked up and I heard a loud bang, I got out of the truck a found that the drive shaft had fallen off onto the ground. This really concerns me because had this had happened at a fast rate of speed the results could have been catastrophic. I drive my 3 year daughter around in this vehicle and now worry about hers and my safety. The dealership said the pinion gear failed throughout the ring gear causing major damage to my axle and drive shaft. The rear axle and drive shaft will need to be completely rebuilt. The work is covered under my lifetime powertrain warranty.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

On my 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 quad-cab 4X4, at 43,000 miles, while changing the oil and oil filter, the drain plug nut on the inside of the oil pan broke loose from the welds. I was lucky, in that this did not occur until I was putting the oil drain plug back in. I was able to hold tension on the nut and tighten the drain plug completely. I contacted the dealership and they ordered the pan. It took a month to get the replacement oil pan. I scheduled it with the dealership for the replacement. Due to the fine engineering, the front axle had to be removed in order to replace the oil pan. The dealership had the vehicle for 3 days before they could complete the replacement. It was covered by the lifetime drive train warranty on the truck.

- Eagle Mountain, UT, USA

At about 100 miles on vehicle noticed a low squeal sound from engine or transmission? at present there are 15000 miles on vehicle and the squeal has gotten a little worst. The noise begins after about one or two minutes of starting, and is continually squealing while vehicle is running. The dealer ship ran test and said it was normal. I drove another 2009 1500 Ram and the noise was not there, or in another 1500 Ram from another dealership. Dealership refuses to go any further with the problem, quote: We can't figure where the noise is coming from, so it must be normal.

- Southfield, MI, USA

2010 Dodge 1500 Ram with less than 9000 miles sudden dangerous deceleration and ABS,4wheel drive service and esp lights alarming while driving at freeway speeds. Frightening! truck seeming to cut out and applying the brakes without any input from driver. Could easily result in loss of control. Speedometer also swinging across from 0 to 65mph constantly during events.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Truck was in park then vehicle left park and went into reverse with no one inside at the time, went up hill with speed and crashed into neighbors car. Dodge says no recalls were reported.

- Grovetown, GA, USA