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1996 DODGE RAM — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

firecrash · 187824 · 1999-12-08

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM
Year
1996
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Speed
45 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

THE TIRE, RIM, BRAKE DRUM AND AXLE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE HOUSING. THE ASSEMBLY WEDGED UNDER VEHICLE. WHEN IT POPPED OUT, IT FLEW UP AND LANDED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATED, APPARENTLY THE OTHER (REMAINING) DRIVE WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE; OUR EXHAUST BRAKE COULD NOT SLOW US DOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY, AND APPARENTLY NOT WORKING. WE SLID TO A STOP ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE AXLE HOUSING. WHEN WE EXITED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FLAME SHOOTING FROM THE END OF THE AXLE HOUSING, WHERE THE AXLE SHAFT WOULD NORMALLY BE. THIS FLAME WAS APPROX. 1.5-2 FEET FROM THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SCREETCH SOUND. WITHIN A MINUTE, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME APART. AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE SAME AXLE PROBLEMS REAPPEARED.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
709112
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown