This past Thursday Chrysler announced a recall that will affect 278,000 pickups due to a defect with the rear axles.
Included in the recall are several Ram 1500 pickups from 2009-2012, Dodge Dakota pickups from 2009-2011 and Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs from 2009.
A nut in the rear axle has the potential to come loose as a result of missing adhesive. If this nut does come loose, the axle could lock causing the driver to lose control. So far Chrysler has reported 15 accidents due to the defect with no injuries, (Chrysler recalls pickups, SUVs, Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com/article/20130215/BUSINESS01/302150060/Chrysler-recalls-pickups-SUVs).
Owners of vehicles will receive notification from Chrysler next month. For repair dealerships will put in a retainer to fasten the nut. This is the second recall the company has made regarding this issue. Last October 44,000 Rams and Dakotas were recalled due to a loose nut axle nut.
For more information on the recall visit http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM433844/RCAK-13V038-4219.pdf.