NHTSA complaint: 2011 CHRYSLER 300 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ENGINE WAS STOPPED\CAR PARKED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, THE BATTERY INDICATOR CAME ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM. I CONTINUED ON TO MY DESTINATION ABOUT 3 MILES. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS SMELL OF SOMETHING BEING "HOT" AND I RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD SEE IT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY HOT, AND SLIGHTLY SMOKING. ASSUMING IT WAS OK NOW THAT I HAD TURNED IT OFF, I WENT INSIDE THE BUILDING TO CALL THE DEALER. LUCKILY, I CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WENT OUTSIDE TO WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR, THE ALTERNATOR HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS BLAZING, DROPPING SOME MELTED MATERIALS ONTO A UNDERBODY AIR DAM AND APPEARED TO BE SPREADING. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE ANY MORE DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT APPEARS THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THERE IS SOME WIRING DAMAGE AS WELL AS SOME DAMAGE TO THE SURROUNDING WIRING HARNESS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS FIRE WOULD HAVE SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, AS IT APPEARED TO BE SELF-PROPAGATING AND ON ITS OWN WOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation