Truck Woes

[Corbet]

10 months ago I posted about the front driveline on my truck exploding.
A few months later the driveline did it again: in the driveway of my cabin with just a few inches of snow on the ground. The dealership took almost two months to replace the shaft- I was told they were out of stock (They did put me in a nice 4x4 loaner after I complained. And looked the other way when I returned the loaner with dog hair on the inside) My wife is convinced the truck is unreliable and implores me not to take it down our driveway in the snow/mud. The front end wobbles There is a loud 'clunk' in the rear driveline the dealership say isn't there. And now I have an epic oil leak from the front of the engine. Which turns out to be so severe the cab has to pulled in order for it to be fixed. The truck leaves a bigger stain on my driveway than my 55 year old Dodge. What gives? This truck is not even 3 years old (December '16). It is dead stock and dealer maintained (my other trucks were maintained at an independent shop)This is my 3rd Ram (1995 2500 4x4, kept to 235K, 2005 Ram 3500 CC 2wd, kept to 195k) and I'm really disappointed. I feel I should not be experiencing issues of this scope. The truck does not see heavy towing use (reciver only, no 5th wheel).I do use 4x4 regularly, but I don't ask anything of it I did not ask of my 1995 ZJ (finally died at 267k after being owned by me since 1999) or my FSJ. I really feel like I have a lemon. Should I ask them to buy it back? Extend the warranty?

Or is this the future? Ram spends so much effort on 'user experience' and plush interiors they don't put the resources in engineering a durable product.

 

[sag2]

For the front drive shaft to "explode" there is something wrong, or your doing something wrong. Has anyone checked both axle ratios to make sure they are the same? If you put it into 4x4 on dry pavement and drive straight ahead does it move smoothly or does it take extra throttle to get it moving. The drive train on the 2500-3500 is plenty strong for it to take some abuse. So something is being missed.

 

[AEdelheit]

Sounds like you have a very incompetent shop that is replacing parts rather then diagnosing the issue, I would find another shop ASAP as none of the issues you are having are normal.

 

[sag2]

I went back and read the original post. It seems there was data taken from the EDR (the Air Bag Controller, ie Black Box) that indicated the damage was from more than "I was just driving down the road in 4" of snow and it broke" that many customers claim happened. See TDR issue 94, The Rest of the Story for a good example.
You never posted the data so we can only guess that FCA was correct in their decision. I don't see either if they agreed to pay for any part of the repair or not.
So there has to more to this story as well.

 

[Corbet]

@sag2. You are correct- I never posted the data because I never received the data. As a follow up-FCA replaced the shaft and the bumper gratis. All of the work done has been done by one dealership.

That's what the drive looked like. My wife and kid were in the car-there is no hot-rodding, no hold my beer watch this ****. Just let's go a little farther up the mountain and do some sledding.

As for the ratios being off or something similar-I logged 100's if not 1000 miles I 4wd this season. Including two trips over Donner Pass with tire chains on both the truck and trailer.

 

[sag2]

If you only used 4x4 on slippery surface that really isn't a valid test. You need to try it on dry surface to see if it binds up. Also, how did the second shaft fail? Exactly like the first one?

 

[Corbet]

This was the drive line the second time...
Truck was in 4Hi, and empty(no cargo in the bed)

 

[Corbet]

If you only used 4x4 on slippery surface that really isn't a valid test. You need to try it on dry surface to see if it binds up. Also, how did the second shaft fail? Exactly like the first one?

Fair enough in regards to slippery surfaces. I would have hoped the dealership would have verified functionality of the system when the replaced the shaft. I

 

[sag2]

Fair enough in regards to slippery surfaces. I would have hoped the dealership would have verified functionality of the system when the replaced the shaft. I

No reason to if there were no other symptoms noted. I would go out and test it now, then you can cross off one more cause for the falure.

 

[Bug Out]

WOW.... That is really some out of the ordinary damage I'd expect to see on the diesel drag strip........smh

 

[AEdelheit]

Hmm, I wonder if the Caster is wayyyy off causing a bad drivline angle???

 

[Cummins12V98]

"And now I have an epic oil leak from the front of the engine. Which turns out to be so severe the cab has to pulled in order for it to be fixed."

That is COMPLETE Barbra Streisand!!! They replaced my front seal no issue without removing the cab!!!

 

[Timd32]

Not sure on your situation, but I would be watching the rebates and jump on a new deal and trade this thing away. IMO finance rates were much better in '16 so expect some higher rates now a days.

But this truck has been a hot mess for sometime with winter coming, I don't blame the wife at all after what you have been thru.