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2008 DODGE RAM 2500 — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT

crash · 714930 · 2009-04-06

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM 2500
Year
2008
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
Miles at failure
26,177
Speed
35 mph

Severity

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

Narrative

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE U-JOINT AXLE FAILED, WHICH JAMMED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. HE WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE DODGE MANUFACTURER AND HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER HE STRUCK THE TELEPHONE POLE; HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE AXLE FAILED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,177. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE U-JOINTS FAILED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE. WHEN THE U-JOINT BROKE, THE AXLES BINDED WITH EACH OTHER AND THE AXLE JAMMED THE SPINDLE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CENTER. . THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A NOISE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. UPDATED 04/22/09.*JB UPDATED 05/04/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HEARD A BANGING NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. RIGHT AFTER THE NOISE, THE STEERING WENT TO THE RIGHT AND HE JUMPED THE CURB. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER NOTICED 2 PARTS FROM HIS VEHICLE WERE ON THE STREET. THE PARTS WERE 2 EARS OFF THE LEFT FRONT AXLE U-JOINT. ONE WAS MALE AND THE OTHER WAS A FEMALE AND THEY WERE STUCK TOGETHER. UPDATED 05/04/09.*JB

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10264210
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown