NHTSA Complaint #10820806 — 2012 DODGE CHARGER

MY 2012 DODGE CHARGER SXT HAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, MAINTENANCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE ON TIME. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED HEARING A NOISE FROM THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND BECAME LOUDER. THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO SUBSIDE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 MINUTES. THEN I OPENED THE HOOD AND AND THE SMELL OF BURNT WAS VERY STRONG. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE. HE COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR WHERE ACTING UP AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THE SYSTEM. HE ADVISED US ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR RECALL P60 AND SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS FOR THE ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER ALL SYMPTOMS OF THIS RECALL P60 WERE PRESENT IN MY CAR. WE TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY REFERRED US TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CONFIRMED THE COMPUTER WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND THEY SAID THAT ONLY THE DEALER COULD HELP WITH THAT. I CALLED THE DEALER AS WELL AND THEY SAID, THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER OR ANY OF THE COMPONENTS THE OTHER MECHANICS HAVE CONFIRMED FAILED IN THE CAR. CHRYSLER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ALTERNATOR ISSUE UNDER RECALL P60 AND NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, CAR RENTAL. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING CHRYSLER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR. MY VEHICLE IS RELATIVELY NEW AND I WAS NOT COUNTING ON HAVING TO PAY FOR SUCH A HEFTY REPAIR TO A NEW CAR.