The plant responsible for the rear axle manufacturing defect was closed during the Chrysler bankruptcy.
The Office of Defects Investigation at NHTSA this past July opened an investigation into complaints alleging rear differential failures resulting in rear wheel lock-up on Dodge pickup trucks. Chrysler has now decided to recall 44,300 Dodge Dakota and Ram 1500 models because of resulting accidents and a review of warranty data.
The rear-axle pinion nut was not secured with an adhesive during manufacture at a plant closed during the Chrysler bankruptcy, and the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and a crash with little warning on model year 2009 and 2010 pickups.
The complaints NHTSA received were showed failures at various speeds with eight of the incidents reporting failures at speeds of 35 mph or greater. Four of the complaints involving higher speed incidents where the failure resulted in a loss of, including one resulting in a crash into a concrete barrier. Most of the complaints said that the failure also resulted in drive shaft failure including one that reported the detached shaft end punctured the fuel tank.
Chrysler Group dealers will install a retainer, free of charge as is required by U.S. safety regulations, for affected customers.
“This solution secures the axle components to ensure the steady, robust performance our customers expect from our trucks,” says David Dillon, Head of Product Investigation and Campaigns.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
