Front Suspension Hub problems of the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500

While driving Saturday, 11/23/2013, I noticed a vibration and humming noise coming from the front of my vehicle. Also, when I turned the car would croak or moan. I could tell something was wrong because my brake pedal became very spongy and had to be pressed in fully in order to stop the car. I began to head home with the truck as I did not want a safety hazard where I could not stop the vehicle. I also noticed that in order to steer straight, I had to hold my steering wheel approximately 30 degrees left. Upon getting the truck home I immediately saw my problem. My front passenger tire was sitting in the wheel well on an angle. Large amounts of smoke were pouring out of the undercarriage, and rubber goo was leaving a trail where I drove. I jacked the car and removed the wheel, and could see even more. My wheel hub assembly was separated and broken. This caused my tire to sit on the hub crooked and lean against my control arm. The heat from this friction was so intense that it melted my cv boot, which is why I had a rubber goo trail. It also melted the abs sensor on the wheel hub itself. Causing my abs to go out. The hub itself had a piece completely fallen off, as if a weld broke. The heat also warped my rotor, and cracked my brake pads in that side. Luckily, I did not have any wheel separation or total failure of the braking system, causing crash or injury. I was barely able to utilize braking and drive home at about 20mph with hazards on. The wheel hub assembly has been recalled in several year Dodge Ram 1500s, including 2004, 2006, and others, for bearing issues. However Dodge claimed it was only a faulty part in 2wd applications. Now we know this is not true. I have a 4wd ram that had the hub assembly fail and a partial braking failure. I am out of room, but I have pictures of the parts broken on the car, and pictures of the removed parts as well.

Hub assembly failed and brakes gave out which allowed vehicle which resulted in crashing into a tree.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the front hub assembly broke and separated from the suspension while driving 10 mph. The hub assembly was brand new and was just purchase from an authorized dealer. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a curb, which caused damages to the suspension and front fender of the vehicle. No one was injured. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s home. The insurance company was notified. The dealer was also notified and refused to acknowledge the defective parts. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 187,000.

At 80,000 miles city driving both left and right hubs failed. Left hub locked up almost sending me into center concrete wall. Damage to ft end was extensive. Called dealership to find out if I had 2 wheel or 4 wheel abs, give them my VIN number¦. . Looooooong story shot, the dealership could not tell me if I had 2 or 4 wheel abs. I had to pull apart to find out. Its a shame the very people that make the truck, can't tell you whats on the truck. $500. 00 later 2 wheel abs hubs left and right, replaced by myself. Not to mention the under carriage damage done due to hub locking up. Sent truck to auto shop to repair front end damage. Beware¦. . If you're hearing a noise in front that sounds like a big bolt in your tire and there is not, get the hubs looked at right away. This is how my issue and costly repairs started.

Around 6/2009 my passenger side wheel hub starting to make a cracking and popping noise at parking lot speeds, I took it to have replaced. It was replaced with a new part. Now only a year later my driver side wheel hub is making the same cracking and popping noise. I believe the bearings are sub standard and need to be checked into.

Both front hub/wheel-bearing assemblies have failed on my truck. My truck has 50k miles! the front wheel-bearing on both sides makes noises, sometimes sounds like it is catching or getting stuck. This has caused me to wreck in a ditch and is very dangerous. The noise starts out only once in a while, then seems to be constantly grinding.

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, 68,000 miles, not commercial use, never used for towing, never used to plow snow, no modifications made ever, driven on paved highways and city streets, and never driven off road. On December 11th 2009 I was driving to work on a smooth paved road when a humming began in the front of the truck. In a matter of 1-2 miles the passenger front wheel began vibrating hard and the vehicle started pulling hard to the right. This almost caused me to loose control. I checked the suspension the next day and found the passenger front hub bearing worn out and severely loose. I could rock the tire 1/4 inch each direction. Upon inspecting the hub there were no dark spots indicating grease had leaked out. I disassembled the front hub and found it bone dry of grease and ruined. I believe this is the same bearing assembly, or very similar, as the 2006 Ram 1500s. The failure was sudden with only a minor humming before severe vibration, wheel drag, and almost a loss of steering. The cost of parts alone cost me approximately $185 at an aftermarket parts store and $350 at Chrysler. It is obvious that Chrysler installed the same type of defective bearings in all the 04,05,06 and possibly newer Ram 1500 pickups. Nhtsa should enforce this recall through Chrysler on all 04,05, and 06 models before a fatality occurs. Below is the 2006 recall. 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 units affected: 86333 recall number: 07v038000 summary: on certain pickup trucks, the front wheel bearing may have received an insufficient quantity of grease during the manufacturing process. Consequence: this could result in bearing degradation, and if subsequent noise and vibration are ignored, could result in hub assembly separation. This may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning. Remedy: dealers will replace the front hub and bearing units. The recall began on February 26, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-140.

My 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 truck has 26,000 miles on it. We have been told by a mechanic's shop that the front hub bearings are in dire need of being replaced. I see that 2006 models have been recalled by Dodge for the same problem. I do not think that 26,000 miles warrants something of this nature failing and it seems apparent that this is a manufacturer's defect.