NHTSA Complaint #10617733 — 2011 DODGE CHARGER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING. WHEN APPROACHING THE GATE TO ENTER FT. BLISS, A BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS IN THE CAR. WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO OF THAT SMELL, THE CARS MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "BATTERY SAVER MODE" ON THE DASHBOARD. KNOWING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CARS, I SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND SHUT EVERYTHING OFF I COULD IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE ABLE TO LIMP TO MY DESTINATION. WHILE ENROUTE, THE ABS, TRACTION AND A VARIETY OF OTHER WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND THE BURNING SMELL WAS EXTREMELY EVIDENT. I POPPED MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED THERE, BUT THE SMELL WAS NOT COMING FROM THAT. THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I DID NOT SEEING ANYTHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH IT SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP. I HAD THE DEALER DO DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND IT WAS PROVEN TO BE THE ALTERNATOR. I GOOGLED 2011 DODGE CHARGER ALTERNATOR AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS THIS ON-GOING PROBE INTO THE ALTERNATOR ISSUE. I HAVE A 36K, 3YR WARRANTY ON IT. I HIT 3YRS IN APRIL AND JUST WENT OVER THE MILEAGE. THE DEALER IS WANTING TO CHARGE ME 842$ FOR THE REPAIRS BUT I FEEL IT IS WRONG FOR THEM TO DO THAT. NOTHING SHOULD FAIL AT 37K BESIDES MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DAMAGE CAUSED FROM DRIVING. THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR