NHTSA Complaint #10639231 — 2011 DODGE CHALLENGER

2011 DODGE CHALLENGER - DRIVING AT 40MPH AND ABS, ESP, AND BRAKE ASSIST LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED FLICKERING THEN EVERYTHING BLACKED OUT AND THE CAR LOST POWER; HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED...AN $1,100 REPAIR JOB. AFTER-MARKET PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL SO IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE! (LUCKILY THE DEALERSHIP WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH ME AND OFFERED A "GOODWILL WARRANTY.") ULTIMATELY, IT'S A REPAIR THAT SHOULDN'T BE NEEDED ON A CAR THAT'S 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER; THIS MALFUNCTION PUTS DRIVERS IN SERIOUS DANGER. *TR