One problem related to axle shaft has been reported for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The vehicle had not been off road for several months but was driven on pavement. While driving down the road, with approximately 10 seconds of warning (similar to a tire howl sound) the front end locked up, jumped in the air and broke off the front drive axles. This caused a loss of steering and jumping of the vehicle. The dealership declared that road debris or an unknown object hit the lip of the front differential cover, which bent it out and causes all of the fluid to leak out, which ultimately resulted in the front end locking up on the highway. This cover hangs out an excessive distanced past the axle housing allowing it to be struck and bent by many objects including road debris. Even though the vehicle is well within manufacturers warranty, they refuse to warranty it. The dealership stated that the entire front end is damaged and requires replacement at an out of pocket expense of approximately $4,350. The dealership also told me that this is not uncommon, that they have had several vehicles come in with the exact same problem. The work has still not been completed and all parts are still available for inspection.