NHTSA Complaint #10683578 — 2011 DODGE CHARGER

BOUGHT 2011 CHARGER IN JULY, 2014. ON OCTOBER 22ND, I NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE. ON OCTOBER 24, MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING SOUND THAT GOT LOUDER OVER NEXT 3 MILES. I PULLED OVER TO A PARKING LOT, NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. I LIFT HOOD AND SEE OIL LEAKING OUT OF TIMING CHAIN COVER ONTO ALTERNATOR. MY CAR SHUT OFF, WON'T START, AND BATTERY SAVER MODE LIGHT FLASHING, GAUGES ACTING WEIRD, AND LIGHTS DIMMING. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I STARTED CAR TO GET HOME WITH IT, DROVE MAYBE 2 MILES AND CAR STARTED TO MELT DOWN INCLUDING WIPERS COMING ON, RADIO ON AND OFF, DOOR BUZZERS COMING ON, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT ON AND OFF, LIGHTS FLASHING, AIR BAG WARNINGS, ETC. THIS CONTINUED FOR NEXT COUPLE MILES UNTIL A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN RIGHT AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS! I BARELY GOT OUT OF LANE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I GOT CAR TO START AND MADE IT OVER THE TRACKS TO A PARKING LOT. MY HUSBAND CAME, CALLED DODGE DEALERSHIP, THEY SENT TOW TRUCK THAT TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE MANAGER CALLED US 5 DAYS LATER, SAID IT WAS ALTERNATOR AND THEY WOULD FIX FOR $850. MY HUSBAND SAID NO, WE'RE NOT PAYING BECAUSE OF RECALL ISSUED ON OCTOBER 8TH, THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPAIR FOR FREE WITH BETTER QUALITY PARTS, AND THAT I NEEDED A RENTAL UNTIL MY CAR WAS FIXED, OR THEY COULD BY MY CAR BACK BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN IT. SERVICE MANAGER DENIED RECALL, SAID IT WAS MEDIA HYPE, AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE SALES MANAGER CALL US. WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL FEBRUARY 10, 2015, WHEN THEY INFORMED RENTAL COMPANY THEY WERE NOT PAYING BILL FOR MY RENTAL FOR LAST 4 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR STILL NOT FIXED AND IN SAME PARKING SPACE AT DEALERSHIP IT'S BEEN IN SINCE OCT. 24. I CALLED AND MADE REPORT TO CHRYSLER CORP. AND NOW IS A CASE UNDER SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SETTLED IN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. STILL WAITING! SHAMEFUL! *TR