NHTSA Complaint #10817393 — 2012 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING BATTERY RED LIGHT ON DASHBOARD LIGHT UP MAKE IT HOME JUST 1 MILE AWAY. NEXT DAY WHEN START THE CAR TO SEE IF ANYTHING CHANGE OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT I CAN SEE. THE CAR START NO BATTERY LIGHT, NO LONGER ON, AFTER LIKE A MINUTE I START BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND I HEARD A NOISE (LIKE A BUZZING) NOISE I DRIVE BACK IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHILE ENGINE RUNNING I OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FROM WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING AND I SEE LOT OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ALTERNATOR I WENT SHOT OFF ENGINE AND IT GOT THE THROTTLE BODY RED LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD ON AND THE SMOKE INTENSIFIED I SHOT OFF THE ENGINE AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO PREVENT THE CAR TO GOT ON FIRE .THE SMOKE STILL COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MINUTES AFTER I SHOT OFF AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.NOW I DON'T EVEN WANT TO CONNECT THE BATTERY BACK. THIS IS AVERY UNSAFE SITUATION IF I WOULD BE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ALTERNATOR FAIL IT WOULD DISABLE THE ENGINE MAKING IT HARD TO STEER THE CAR AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN THIS CAR IS ELECTRIC NO ELECTRIC POWER NO STEERING ASSIST , NO ENGINE RUNNING NO BREAK ASSIST AND THE CHANCE THE BATTERY FAIL BECAUSE OF SHORT OR BURN ALTERNATOR CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO OVERHEAT THE BATTERY IS INSIDE THE CAR UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I NOTICE THE SITUATION RIGHT AWAY AND TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE .