NHTSA Complaint #10849895 — 2011 DODGE CHARGER

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 RT AWD DODGE CHARGER ON THE FREEWAY, AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS (INCLUDING, THE DASH LIGHTS, THE RADIO, THE HEADLIGHTS, I AM UNSURE IF THE REAR RUNNING LIGHTS WERE INVOLVED) SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY (3-5 SECONDS). DURING THAT TIME I NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE STEERING, THE WHEEL BECAME STIFF LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS OFF. I LET MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL BUT DID NOT BRAKE SO I'M NOT SURE IF THE POWER BRAKES WERE AFFECTED, BUT ASSUME THEY WERE. IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE RECALL INVOLVING THE 6 CYLINDER MODELS WITH THE 160 AMP ALTERNATOR. (I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME ALTERNATOR THAT WAS USED IN THE R/T 5.7L HEMI MODEL) THE POWER CAME BACK ON AND I DROVE THE LAST 4-5 MILES HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I AM APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NOW. LOOSING THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE AT FREEWAY SPEED COULD END IN AN ACCIDENT. AS AN ADDED NOTE, WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY SMELL (ELECTRICAL) NEAR THE ENGINE, THERE WAS NOT.