NHTSA complaint: 2012 DODGE CHARGER — POWER TRAIN
I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PULLED OUT OF MY GARAGE AS I DO EACH MORNING. AS I WENT DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AT ALMOST IDLE SPEED, I COULD FEEL A STRONG RESISTANCE (AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON) AND THE POWER STEERING TIGHTENED UP. SUDDENLY A STRONG BURNING SMELL FILLED THE CAR, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE AC FAN BLEW ON HIGH SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY REVERSED BACK TO THE GARAGE (100 FEET OR LESS) AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO PARK. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING BURNING UNDER THE HOOD AS THE SMELL FILLED THE GARAGE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN AAA ARRIVED TO TOW IT, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE DRIVER CHOSE NOT TO JUMP IT FOR FEAR OF DOING MORE DAMAGE. MY LOCAL TRUSTED MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 DODGE CHARGER ALTERNATORS AND HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR THAT HAD FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ARRIGO SAWGRASS DODGE WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD IN FACT FAILED AND WAS BURNING. HE SAID THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT COVER MY EXPENSES. MY 16 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE LUCKY WE WERE IN THE DRIVEWAY, LUCKY THE FIRE DIDN'T IGNITE WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING AND LUCKY MY SON (A NEW DRIVER) WAS NOT FACED WITH A TOTALLY DISABLED VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THIS FAILURE CREATED A HIGH RISK OF CRASH. HAD WE BEEN ON ANY ROAD INSTEAD OF MY DRIVEWAY, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation