2004 Dodge RAM 1500 wheels problems

Filed May 17, 2018 · Wheels · 160,000 miles · TX

Driving vehicle on a straightaway at 30mph and front driver's side wheel broke off and flew across the street. Vehicle did not roll and driver able to push into parking lot awaiting tow. Wheel hub cracked per mechanic report. Ram customer service declined investigation due to "not original owner, no current service contract, and not a commercial vehicle" but confirmed that this VIN not included in recall of other ram 1500 for same issue different years.

Filed Mar 30, 2018 · Wheels · 150,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. While driving 35 MPH, the rear passenger side studs detached from the wheel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the wheel assembly needed to be replaced. While driving 30 MPH on march 30, 2018, the front passenger side studs detached from the wheel. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was sent an email regarding the failures, but failed to respond. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2017 · Transmission, Wheels · 147,000 miles · GA · crash

4/23/2017 rear passenger side wheel and hub assembly fell off. Caused damage to vehicle. Luckily it happened while turning in a parking lot. I've seen a lot of online postings and pictures of failures and accidents due to this product deficiency. Please advise... Thank you for your time...

Filed Feb 9, 2017 · Wheels · 150,000 miles · CA

I was driving my 2004 dodge ram 1500 pickup truck last sunday (2/5/17) on a smooth open road surface, when suddenly and without warning, the back two tires seized up while going 55mph. I nearly lost control of the vehicle, which bounced and skidded and then came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the lane I'd been driving in. Fortunately, no other vehicles were around and no one was injured. In 2013, dodge issued a safety recall for the 2004 dodge ram 1500 pickup truck after an the federal safety agency investigation found that the pinion nut can loosen, causing the rear axle to seize and the drive shaft to detach. This is exactly the situation I suffered over the weekend, however dodge customer service tells me that my vehicle was not included in the recall, and they're refusing to take responsibility for the repair. I asked several times for an explanation as to why my vehicle was excluded from the recall, and no one was able to provide me with an answer except to say that the damage to my truck was completely "unrelated" to the recall. Our family is now down to one vehicle, my husband has not been able to go to work this week for lack of transportation, and the repairs will cost in excess of $3,000, which I can't afford.

Filed Oct 6, 2016 · Wheels · 100,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. While making a right turn at 5 MPH, a loud grinding noise emitted from the vehicle. The driver pulled over and discovered that the rear passenger wheel fractured and caused the vehicle to collapse without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Sep 26, 2016 · Airbags, Body · AR · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 dodge ram 1500. While driving approximately 35 MPH to exit the highway, the rear driver side tire completely fractured. The vehicle spun around and crashed into a wall. The vehicle was destroyed. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that there was extensive rust and corrosion on the frame. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and then towed to a repair shop. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

Filed Jun 10, 2016 · Wheels · 140,000 miles · PA

Driving home on 5/27/2016, hear hammering and assume local construction. Drive a little further and hear hammering again. 3rd time, I realize it's coming from my truck and in time with tire rotation. Pull over, but tires and wheels look fine. Drive further, hammering continues. Pull over again, but nothing being dragged underneath. As I slowly drive 2 blocks to closest garage, some guy says he can see my front wheel moving. Pull up in front of garage bay. Mechanic says front wheel rusted to point of near collapse. Try to move truck into bay but turning the wheels stresses it too much, so it's jacked it up in place. Only immediate remedy is spare tire, but spare tire winch rusted frozen and they had to cut cable and box. Mechanic said front wheel may not have endured if gone further, showed other 3 wheels were similarly rusting, and apparently because of the cover they put on the chrome clad steel wheels. Good thing I was moving slowly and on residential roads; if wheel had come off on faster roads it could easily have ended up in windshield of vehicle driving the other way. Chrome cladding separated completely. Wheel had chunks of rust 2-3"x1/2" + flakes falling off, complete separation in large areas. Major safety issue - apparently result of a design flaw made worse because the chrome cladding hides the rusting from view ' that was known or should have been known to manufacturer (junk yards are aware of it,) and that could have resulted in loss of life. Thankfully, I believe it was broken sway bar link pin (rust) that caused hammering and alerted me to check wheels. Had to purchase 4 new wheels, and have link pin replaced. Fc/ram unwilling to address, based on year of truck and mileage, but no one should ever have to worry that their wheels may rust off where you cannot see it. Saved 1 wheel and cladding for verification; others discarded.

Filed Mar 27, 2016 · Airbags, Wheels · 180,000 miles · NC

I have received many notices about the air bag failure on my 04 ram truck. I have taken it to my dealer over a year ago and they cannot acquire the parts to replace it, this is ongoing and dumb. Every time I drive it I am at risk and if something ever happened to me my family would sue dodge corp. But I wish to live with peace of mind. Also codes r25 p81 p40 at which the whell hubs are failing every 3-4 years and I keep purchasing with replacement parts from local auto parts stores.

Filed Jul 11, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 80,000 miles · CA

Was driving at about 25 MPH had just made a left turn, and out of no where my truck went side ways heard a screeching tire sound then a bang, then the whole truck started to shake very violently. I braked immediately and the banging continued, I was in the middle of the roadway and tried to give it gas to get to the edge of the street but the banging go worst, turn off and exited the truck, noticed a big piece of metal in the middle of the road along with a lot of oil , ran up to it to only notice it was half of my drive shaft, it had snapped in two still attached to a piece of the rear end, along with fragment pieces all over the floor of the differential housing, seemed like something blew up in the differential. I looked under the truck and noticed the banging noise and violent movement was coming from the other half of the drive shaft that was still attacked to the transmission that was still spinning when I had it in gear. The car behind me had to avoid the drive shaft that snapped off since he said it flew out the rear of my truck as I was driving. Had to get towed home and have the differential oil cleaned of the road way. I went home and notice there was a recall for this very same thing at it covered trucks manufactured january 28 of 2004 through august 3, 2005, my truck was manufactured april 2004 so it should be covered but the dealer and manufacture are giving the run around. Please help!

Filed Jun 23, 2015 · Wheels · 6,000 miles · NC

Checking on possible airbag recalls. Also when I purchased this truck in year 2004 (brand new), I was offered the the option of 20" rims. I toke the option yet, the id sticker located on the drivers door was never replaced. Everytime I have my tires serviced, the tires are imporperly filled with air, even though I repeatedly infor the repair maintenance shops that 34 psi is not the correct pressure. They repair shops state, we follow the guidance on the door sticker.