The driveshaft came loose from the rearend. It was preceded by a slight whirring noise which appeared to be coming from the rear of the vehicle. The whirring noise was only present for a short period and was only heard on deceleration. Upon acceleration, there was no noise. Immediately before the driveshaft let loose, there was a louder whirring noise, some jerking, and then the lack of connection between the transmission and rearend. The differential was locked up and the wheels would not move forward. The speed when this happened was approximately 20 mph. The repair has not been done as of 7/2/2014. If anyone from the NHTSA would like to inspect the vehicle due to the recent investigation into this model and problem, they are welcome to do so.

- Dallas, PA, USA

While driving with the air conditioning on when I slowed down to stop behind a stopped vehicle my 05 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab with a V8 stalled out. I had to put the truck into neutral to start it back up & continue going. This has happened so many times while slowing down or stopping that I no longer can keep count. It has also happened when making a turn which caused all loss of power steering & power brakes. So far I have not wrecked when this happens but it scares me or my teenage driver to death. I have reported it several times over several years & nothing is being done. I also know this happens with the 2004 model of Dodge trucks as my nephew own one that I have drove & it happened the only difference in trucks is his 04 has the hemi. And this only happens when the air conditioning is on. I guess someone is going to have to wreck & die before Dodge recalls & fixes the problem. But until then I will keep reporting here & to Dodge.

- Logansport, LA, USA

Last Saturday on June 28 2014 I was leaving my residence when I observed a small leak dripping out of my rear differential where the pinion gear goes into the differential. I ordered a pinion seal at my local auto parts store. On my way to the parts store I noticed a very faint whine coming from the rear end. About 1 to 2 miles after the whine was first noticed it quickly became a roar for no more than 20 seconds and then the pinion gear snapped at the differential locking both my rear tires up sending my truck sideways. With my son in the back seat it was a very frightening experience for a 2 year old. I couldn't move the truck out of the middle of the street so I sat helplessly and waited for a tow truck. The next day I looked underneath the truck and realized that along with my rear end being toasted so was my drive shaft which had damage from spinning freely. Then I observed my gas tank with a dent so big I have no choice but to purchase a new tank. So far I have been quoted for a used rear differential at several salvage yards from 800-1400. It's ridiculous that this problem continues with Dodge trucks and nothing is being done about it. Is it going to take someone loosing there life because negligence from Dodge to get these problems fixed and hold Dodge accountable!!!!

- New Bedford, MA, USA

I am the original owner of a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500, and have always kept my truck in excellent physical and mechanical condition, and there are no incomplete or unperformed recalls on this vehicle. There were no indications of any kind of mechanical issues with this truck until Sunday, 6/22/14, approx. 6pm. I was driving at approx. 35-40 mph along a local street, approaching an intersection, when it sounded like a blowout, but the truck continued to drive into an intersection. This was followed by whining and banging sounds, which as it turns out, was a the drive shaft tearing up the underside of my truck.,,I made it thru the intersection, and part-way into a parking lot driveway, when the 2 pieces of my driveshaft flew off and the entire back end locked up, with my truck blocking traffic. I am disabled, and was fortunately not injured, and no one was hit by the flying pieces of the drive shaft as they flew out. The truck was inspected by a geico adjuster, who indicated he was well trained with truck parts and mechanical, and that one of the pins had backed out of the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 drive shaft into the rear differential, causing spider gears to lock up and the driveshaft to tear away from the rear axle. I have a copy of the geico report. The adjusters assessment was confirmed also by the repair center, who mentioned that they had seen this same issue before. This is an extremely hazardous mechanical failure; the vehicle appears to keep running, but the driver and passengers are in a vehicle that ultimately cannot be controlled, and the drive shaft comes into 2 pieces and flies out, potentially injuring by-standers and other property....updated 01/07/15 updated 08/23/2017

- Dallas, TX, USA

Was driving South on sr 19 in wakarusa in at 50mph and started to feel a small vibration. Let off of throttle and heard a whining noise. Then heard a bang and clanging. Pulled off to side of road and coasted to a stop. Looked in rear view mirror to see drive shaft laying on ground behind me. It had came loose from the rear axle. The bolt that holds the drive shaft hub to the rear axle had came out of the hub and separated. After separation the rear end made terrible noise. Removed cover on rear end to see gears and bearings had exploded inside and it ripped a hole in the axle housing inside the gear box....updated 01/07/15 updated 6/11/2015

- Nappanee, IN, USA

The drive shaft locked up. Saw your report on this and wanted to add mine to the list. It fell apart while driving without warning and caused a major expense in repairing it and towing.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

Wife was driving home from work on secondary road, heard a noise, then a thump. She was doing around 40-45 mph, was able to put over to side of road with no incident. I arrived to see what had broke, and I discovered the driveshaft had separated from the rear axel. Nothing had broke, but rather the nut that connects the driveshaft to the rear axel had loosened and came off. Causing damage to the rear end.

- Cedar Grove, NC, USA

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 driving approximately 70 mph on an interstate when suddenly, the contact heard a loud noise. Immediately following the failure the Dodge driver was able to safely coast the vehicle to the emergency lane. The Dodge vehicle lost its drive shaft which bounced down the road and made contact with oncoming traffic....updated 01/07/15 updated 5/29/2015

- Alvarado, TX, USA

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab with the 4.7 and 4X4. Today while driving with cruise control set at 75 the accelerator stuck and I had to turn the key off to stop the truck. The truck has less than 54,000 miles on it. I don't have floor mats in the truck and once the truck was stopped I checked under the hood and the cable was tightly connected but lose on the throttle body and the same on the gas pedal.

- Midland, TX, USA

Shutter and noise from rear end when turning at slow speed usually from stop or slow turn. Have had service done on differential at 15000 mile intervals even though no towing or dusty condition. This does not happen all the time. After reading so many complaints on here about pinion nuts and differential failure thought should I should submit to help start a investigation and recall it seems their is a problem that should be addressed. Whither in part failure or service procedure of differential fluid service.

- San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

Pinion nut came loose, and tore out the drive train, rear end, transfer case, drive shaft and transmission.

- Livonia, MI, USA

Differential failure vibration, clicking bearing/gear mesh sound.

- Indialantic, FL, USA

Differential: Over the 90000 miles I have on four occasions I have pulled the differential cover, cleaned the receiver, and replaced lubricant. These are defective parts and as stated in several accidents lead to complete failure and accident potential. This would be a $3000+ repair at a dealer - almost the value of my truck. The rest of my truck would go for another 100,000+ miles. This is the second time I have written your Agency. Differentials were defective. I limit use to local driving only. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Indialantic, FL, USA

The pinion nut on the pinion gear in the rear axle backed itself off and caused the rear drive shaft to come off and the pinion gear to fall into the axle housing and destroy all the gears.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Complete failure of automatic transmission while driving after complaining about trans problems to dealer.

- Flanders, NJ, USA

Another vehicle cut in front and braked for red light causing me to "lock up" the brakes. The truck has rear ABS which kept the rear wheels from "locking up". vehicle accelerated during heavy braking which caused the collision. About 50 feet of brake marks were left on the road surface from the front tires. In a separate incident, a vehicle suddenly merged from left side of road causing me to swerve to the soft shoulder on the right. Truck had come to a complete stop when the right rear wheel started to spin. It spun for about 10 seconds before it stopped. Tire dug into the soft shoulder and left a spray of dirt behind the truck.. have been searching for a facility to test the braking system. It appears related to the stalling while stopping problem.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

My complaint # is 10533970, there's not enough characters for this to be said there. Please review this info, someone has to get these death traps off the road before people start or keep dying. The following complaints alone for 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 hemi's 4X4! 10525317,10522824,10522467,10515234, 10512746,10508477,10508200,10507139,10503157,10502707,10502402,10499587,10487800,10478873, 10446068, 10248039, 10446048, 10479516, 10129030. There's another 20 on 04 Ram models,18 on 05 Ram, dakotas & durangos, 06 models same way. Its all on here. The Canadian highway dept has a 2007 on lock down and awaiting a full investigation after pinion nut came loose and catapulted the Ram on its roof at 60 mph! its on facebook, and many on line forums state the same issues with pinion nuts coming loose. Dodge talk, the straight dope, just google it. I am requesting a better investigation be performed into the rear end/pinion nut recalls with Dodge Ram, Dakota, durango and Chrysler aspen vans from 2002-current date. After my investigation I found the following recalls on this site associated with the rear end/ pinion nut coming loose. Here's the info, recalls #95599, 79940, 793042, 93043, 95601, and lastly 95600 2/6/13. According to this site, almost 1 million vehicles on the recall list, just 2009-12. The recall 95600 states the 2009-2011 Dodge dakotas manufactured Feb 27, 2007 ect. I have a hard time believing 2009 dakotas were being manufactured N Feb of 2007, which means the 2007 and 2008 models were being built then, but they are not in the recall, why not? also according to the Chrysler's own admissions (viewable on this site) at your request to provide all info according to your investigation, (quote) that these same parts are "backwards" in earlier model years(meaning they have been using these same parts for years prior) and based on info I have found seems to be since 2002.

- Ottawa, IL, USA

My request for a complete and thorough re-investigation by NHTSA will follow this complaint. Myself and 2 children almost died as a result of the power train failure of my 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 hemi pickup. On sat morning 7-20-13 around 10:30 am traveling home from a baseball tournament, we were westbound on 80/90, mile marker 115, traveling around 70-72 mph near elkhart Indiana. The rear pinion nut came loose, causing the pinion gear to fall into the rear differential, locking up the rear end, and throwing the drive shaft completely off my vehicle with no warning. We were in heavy traffic, there was a semi pulled over into the shoulder for a down tire, all the vehicles were merging over to give the semi room, when all of a sudden my vehicle made a loud noise (bang), and I lost immediate control of the vehicle. I fought to regain control of my truck, just missing being rear ended and broad- sided by several vehicles as well as wiping out vehicles to my right and behind me. I barely got some control as my vehicle was attempting to go sideways I was in fear we were going to roll at 50 mph right down the highway. I kept the vehicle from rolling somehow and came to a screeching stop barely off the roadway. My truck was smoking from everywhere and I could not see for what seemed like 2 minutes. As traffic lightened up and the 2 cars that also left the roadway to avoid a collision, got back under power and left, I found my drive shaft on the roadway completely off my vehicle. Once my mechanic was able to see the vehicle on Monday and diagnose the issue. It was found then that the rear pinion nut came loose. It has cost me over $4500 so far between towing, rear end, drive shaft, front end, gas tank smashed and were not done. The trans also has issues now. This is the 2nd Dodge vehicle my mechanic has seen this happen to. Please look at the recalls and complaints on here....updated 01/07/15

- Ottawa, IL, USA

The contact was the mechanic working on a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary and in neutral, the vehicle erroneously accelerated. The contact crashed into a hydraulic lift and sustained injuries to the shoulder and leg. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The vehicle was neither diagnosed for the cause of the failure or repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 9/4/13

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

My 2005 Dodge Ram has been stalling on the freeway when slowing down in traffic and when coming to stops at intersections. It has been doing this for years. I have had engine lights come on and had mechanics work on it. This problem continues and is very scary. I can not trust to take it on long trips.after goggling on the internet I found that most Dodge have this problem. I will use social media to let my family and friends know that Dodge is not the truck to buy. I can not believe they are not recalling this issue in their trucks some thing needs to be done to correct this issue. Starter will go out if this continues also putting in neutral will not do the transmission any good, it feels like it is messing up now.

- Jonestown, TX, USA