NHTSA Complaint #10676648 — 2012 CHRYSLER 300

I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOUSE AND WAS APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER MILE FROM HOME WHEN MY SON AND I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THE RADIO TURNED OFF. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID "BATTERY SAVING MODE". I HAD JUST PUT A NEW BATTERY ON LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AGO. THEN I HEARD A WHIRRING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UP A HILL. THE RED OUTLINE OF A BATTERY APPEARED ON THE DASH. I TOOK THE CAR BACK HOME AND PARKED IT -- THEN HAD TO HAVE A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED THE NEXT DAY. MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS DEFINITE EVIDENCE OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNING UP. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR -- MY HEAT WOULD NOT BLOW OUT THE FRONT VENTS. TURNS OUT THE ACTUATOR HAD GONE OUT. I AM STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR JUST A REALLY STRANGE COINCIDENCE. I AM STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN I GET ON THE INTERSTATE EVEN WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANYTIME WITHOUT KNOWING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR