NHTSA Complaint #10268931 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

MARCH 13, 2009, I PURCHASED A USED DODGE CALIBER 2007. FEW WEEKS LATER, I STARTER HEARING NOISE WHICH KEPT INCREASING IN INTENSITY AS THE DAYS WENT BY. I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A LOOSE OR BAD SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER OR IDLER. ON MAY 17, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BACK HOME, THE ABS, AIR BAG, BATTERY, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON. AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, I NOTICED SPARKS AROUND THE ALTERNATOR AREA. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT TOUCHING A LOOSE METAL THAT WAS CREATING THE SPARKS. TODAY, MAY 16, I REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR AND NOTICED THE ALTERNATOR WINDINGS ARCED AND MELTED THE COPPER WIRE WINDINGS AND THE ALUMINUM HOUSING. I HAVE THE ALTERNATOR AND PICTURES READILY AVAILABLE FOR YOUR EVALUATION. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHER DODGE CAVALIER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PREMATURE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS VERY UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE, EXPLOSION, ACCIDENT, AND FATALITIES. THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS RELATED TO THIS DANGEROUS ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *TR