While traveling around 45mph with children in the car, I noticed a whining noise immediately before I heard the tires chirping as they intermittently began to lock up. I was able to get to my destination and noticed there was gear lube sprayed all over the underside. The pinion shaft was detached from the rear differential. Truck was completely inoperable, had to be towed by flatbed as rear end was locked. Spent almost $2000 in repairs. Spoke to Dodge 12/21/14 as I'm now reading information that 2005 Dodge Ram are being recalled for this exact problem and have been told it is the 2008 model and my truck is "fine". will be following up with a supervisor.

- Medina, OH, USA

While driving at 40 mph, the drive shaft disconnected without notice or warning, and the rear differential locked. Truck was inoperable and unmovable, and required tow. Mechanic determined that the rear axle pinion nut had backed completely out. Claim 24780895 filed with Chrysler on March 24, 2014, and refiled December 20, 2014 #26153960.

- Lodi, CA, USA

While driving the truck on the highway doing about 45-50mph with my 6 month old baby in the truck, the rear wheels locked up and sent the driveshaft flying out from under the truck, the truck then fishtailed into the woods. The truck was towed to a mechanic shop, where I was told the pinion nut came off the rear differential which caused the rear wheels to lock up. This also wiped out the rear gears, carrier and driveshaft. My extended warranty plan would not cover the repairs because it was an external part on the rear differential that came loose causing the damage. The repairs cost me over $1,000.

- Medford, NY, USA

Noticed some vibration from the rear end. We were traveling on US12 headed East. Traveling at 55 mph, started going into moscow mi. Started slowing to 35 mph, drive shaft came off we coasted the rest of the way to the center of the town. Called for a wrecker who tried to load our truck only to find the rear end had locked up. He had to go back and get a flat bed and dragged the truck on. Took us to a Chrysler dealer [xxx]. who never mentioned Dodge was having an issue. We were very lucky the rear end did not lock up at 55 mph. Guess someone as looking out for us! the rear end had to be replaced, I still have a vibration I think the drive shaft is bent? cist $3148.90 to repair plus the wrecker and a three day stay at a motel waiting for a new rear end. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Cheboygan, MI, USA

Me and my little girl were going to the local store stopped at stop sign to wait for traffic to clear traffic cleared and I went to pull out on to the main road next thing I know I was ten feet in the air my drive shaft broke and dug into the road the rear end had froze and when it did drive shaft dug into the road and lifted me and the truck up in the air scared the hell out me and my girl. Ps called Dodge about my truck and the rearend they said my VIN was not part of the recall somebody needs to look into it thanks

- Endicott, NY, USA

The rear differential locked up and the driveshaft separated at the rear connection to the differential in model year 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. There was little or no noise or other warning prior to the lock-up and separation. The pinion was forced into the rear differential causing the lock up and damaging the internals. The drive shaft with the U-joint attached fell to the ground and was pulled free of the transfer case. I was traveling a speed of < 35 mph and was unable to move the vehicle. The vehicle was towed and repaired. I am in possession of all damaged parts and have supporting repair documentation. I am aware there is a pending investigation with this issue.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

Just exited freeway when heard a low sounding whining from the rear of the vehicle when decelerating. Shortly after further travel at approx 35 mph a loud bang occurred and rear wheels locked up causing a long tire skid where vehicle came to a stop. The driveshaft was on the ground separated from the differential. This is the second occurrence of the exact same problem that occurred in August 2009. At that time, the vehicle was repaired at a Chrysler Jeep dealership.

- Westlake , OH, USA

While driving, the rear wheels locked up and the drive shaft hit the road. I was able to steer the truck out of harms way before a more severe accident could occur. Upon leaving the vehicle, the draft shaft was seen laying underneath the truck, detached from the rear differential. The dealership found the pinion nut had backed off and yoke came out of rear differential. When that happened, the pinion went into the carrier and gouged it and broke the speed sensor. Repairs were extensive and not supported by Chrysler. Had to replace the rear differential center carrier, ring and pinion, both axle bearings, rear speed sensor, and rear drive shaft and yoke. Research concluded this is a common problem with other Dodge trucks of varying years as well as 2005. However, Chrysler will not recall 2005 Dodge Ram trucks.

- Dauphin, PA, USA

The rear differential locked up. That usually means the gears inside broke or a pin etc broke. Came across an article saying alot of Dodge Ram owners have experienced the same thing. There was no indication that anything was wrong. I baby my truck, never beat on it etc because it's a limited numbered daytona series truck.

- Arlington, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge 1500 Ram. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, a loud booming sound emitted from the rear of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the drive shaft had failed. The drive shaft was replaced and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 54,897.

- Coram, NY, USA

Yoke separated from rear differential causing driveshaft to drop and rear wheels to lock up.

- Montgomery, IL, USA

I was driving at approximately 40mph when my truck made a loud banging noise followed immediately by the wheels locking up causing the rear end to slide out from under me and cause me to come to a skidding stop. I was able to gain control of the vehicle and avoid an accident however a passerby called 911 believing there was a wreck. After coming to a stop the drive shaft was laying on the ground completely separated from the rear end. After being towed to a shop we looked and nothing was broke the nut had backed off of the pinion gear causing it receded back into the differential and the nut was still in the drive shaft. Luckily there was not an accident but if I had have been at a higher rate of speed I don't know that I could have controlled the vehicle and possibly could have been in a serious accident.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

Rear differential failed, caused the driveshaft to break off the vehicle while moving. Vehicle immediately stopped in road. I understand that NHTSA currently has an investigation open on this issue, id # PE14019.

- Athens, AL, USA

Driving on parkway, 9/13/14, noted a humming noise from rear-end, when checked found to be leaking around pinion seal behind drive-shaft yolk. When changing seal noted pinion nut to be extremely loose when going to remove it. Replaced seal, tightened pinion nut back without any locking pin noted and noted rear-end still humming but not as bad, and no leak remaining at this time. Feel possibility that pinion nut being loose could have further damaged bearings and pinion, and feel this could be a safety issue. No crash has been involved or further damage noted to this point. End- web

- Nancy, KY, USA

My wife and child was driving my truck and the nut on the yoke on the rear end fell off. Which caused the read end to lock up and about cause a wreck. After talking to a few mechanics about fixing the problem. I found out this happens all the time with Dodge trucks. After searching about the problem online, I found out they are right. A replacement rear end was very high priced due to the high demand for them. I searched for a recall and only found recalls for 2007 and newer trucks with this problem. How can they not fix this when it's obviously a problem and very possibly deadly?

- Elk City, KS, USA

I was driving my 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 at 30 mph when I just heard a bang and my truck came to a complete holt. I got out of my truck to see what it was and found out that my drive shaft had fallen not for my uv joint but from the rear axel pinion nut. I did some research and found out that my year make and model vehicle is common but is not a recall. But there is a recall on the 2009 thru 2012 for the same exact thing. I also found that there are several other vehicles with the same year, make, and model that had the same incident.

- Riviera Beach, FL, USA

Whining and whirring sound coming from rear end of truck. Took truck to garage and they felt the rear end was shot. I can't get truck into my Dodge dealer until 9/7/2014. Disappointed a truck with so little mileage would have this major of a problem.

- Mckees Rocks, PA, USA

Was driving on highway when rear differential locked up. Truck skid and back wheels locked up. Pinion gear cracked causing damage to the drive shaft to drop and become damaged. Had to call aaa to tow truck to private mechanic shop (I was out of state at the time of the incident and had to be towed from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.)

- Clementon , NJ, USA

I was driving at approximately 65 mph on I-95, and when crossing a small overpass, I heard a high pitched whine. I thought it sounded similar to the noise tires make when on a bridge grate, but it was louder and higher pitched. Approximately 15 seconds after the first occurrence, there was another quick whine and all of a sudden the truck began to shake violently. There was a very loud and fast banging noise coming from under the truck. It felt like the truck was coming apart around us. I was in the fast lane, so I was able to pull over and hit the brakes immediately. I looked under the truck and saw that the drive shaft had become detached from the differential housing. I had it towed to a shop. The mechanic told me that the spline nut had completely backed off allowing the drive shaft to come free. He mentioned that there didn't appear to be any evidence of thread lock compound on the spline. Fortunately, I was able to stop before the bearings jammed up the gears and froze the rear differential. I have had it in a total of three shops for assessment. The consensus is that the rear is damaged beyond repair and needs to be replaced.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

I own a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 and I was traveling on the local highway at approximately 45mph when with no warning or strange sound my drive shaft dislocated from my rear end and my back tires began to lock up. I manage to pull over to the shoulder of the road with out losing control to bad. The experience was like the whole front end of my truck nose dived and there was terrible banging and vibrations coming from the rear of my truck. My friend that came with a roll back to tow my truck home is also a mechanic told me the pinion failed and that I was going to just have to replace the rear end. I tried to just remove my rear drive shaft and place the truck in 4X4 to have the front wheels pull the truck home but the rear tires would not turn. I take care of my vehicles and I have never had a issue out of my truck until now. For there to be no warning signs what so ever leads me to believe that there is a manufacturer flaw. While looking for replacement parts on edmuns.com I discovered an article dated 06/30/2014 titled feds probe 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 after complaints of rear differential failures that describes exactly what happened to me.

- Greenwood, MS, USA