NHTSA Complaint #10662239 — 2011 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING HEARD LOW MOANING SOUND, 5 MINUTES LATER (STILL DRIVING) BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO AUTO PARTS STORE BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON (~7:45PM) TO SEE IF MY NEED WAS A BATTERY. I ASKED TECHNICIAN TO COME AND SEE IF IT WAS MY BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR, AS I OPENED VEHICLE DOOR TO POP THE HOOD, THE SUV WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE TECHS SCURRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND WAIVED SMOKE IN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE TO DISCONNECT POWER. I WAS RUSHING TO GET CHILD OUT OF CAR, BECAUSE SMOKE WAS BELLOWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AFTER TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE POWER CABLE FROM THE STUD UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE AND SMOKE FROM THE ALTERNATOR SLOWED AND EVENTUALLY WENT OUT. I CALLED INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. HAD I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE NIGHT AND SOUGHT SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY 2011 DODGE DURANGO COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUGHT FIRE IN MY GARAGE, BECAUSE POWER WAS CONTINUALLY BEING SUPPLIED TO THE ALTERNATOR (OVER POWERING IT). THIS IS A SERIOUS, POTENTIAL FATAL SYSTEM FAILURE AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION! DEALER CONFIRMED THE FAILED ALTERNATOR AND IS CHARGING ME $855 DOLLARS, AND REQUIRED PROMPTING TO ENGAGE DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE RECALL. DEALER CLAIMED NO RECALL HAS BEEN FORMALIZED. DUE TO MY DISBELIEF THAT DODGE WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PERSISTENCE IN QUESTIONING OTHER POTENTIAL CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, THE DEALER BEGAN TO ADVISE THAT THIS WAS A PREVIOUSLY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH "CHRYSLER" THAT IS BEING FIXED BY REFURBISHING ALTERNATORS AND SELLING THEM BACK TO THE DEALER FOR $500. DEALER ALSO STATED THE I COULD REQUEST REPAYMENT FOR MY SERVICES ONCE A FORMAL RECALL DISCLOSURE WAS SUBMITTED TO CONSUMERS. I AM FURIOUS TO SEE THAT IS IN FACT A FORMAL RECALL; NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V634000. *TR