NHTSA Complaint #10640221 — 2011 DODGE CHARGER

DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 75 MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT AT THE TIME) IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TEXAS, MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED TURN OFF WAS THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND IT WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON, THEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE MESSAGES ON MY DASHES MESSAGE CENTER AND IT TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS IN BATTERY SAVER MODE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER (MAYBE ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO) THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS CAME ON AND ALL MY GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER AND WHATNOT) ALL DROPPED TO ZERO. THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOTION AND WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A ROAD TO PULL OFF AT (THOUGH WE WERE NO WHERE NEAR ANYTHING AT THE TIME). AT THAT POINT I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING, LOCKS, WINDOWS, AND ANYTHING ELECTRIC WENT ON THE CAR TOO. AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER DEALING WITH CHRYSLER AND GETTING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND MY CAR BACK FROM MIDLAND TO AUSTIN, IT TURNS OUT THE ALTERNATOR WENT ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE THIS EARLY (APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES) IN THE LIFE OF MY CAR. HOPEFULLY THIS GETS ADDED TO THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE14022) FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR