NHTSA Complaint #10873965 — 2012 DODGE DURANGO

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE SLIGHT DECLINE FROM THE DEALER LOT ONTO THE STREET. I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED ALTERNATOR. BECAUSE OF THE COSTLY REPAIR, I OPTED TO GET A SECOND OPINION. THIS MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. HE CHECKED THE VIN FOR A RECALL, AND DID NOT SEE MY VIN LISTED, THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR ON DODGE DURANGOS MADE IN 2011-2014, MATCHING THE SPECS OF MY AUTO. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A 2012, I ASKED IF THIS IS COMMON FOR SUCH A "YOUNG" CAR. HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS A TYPICAL ISSUE. WHAT HE ALSO THOUGHT WAS ODD WAS THAT TRACKING DOWN A REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR TO FIT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT; THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMPATIBLE PART AVAILABLE WITHIN A SIX STATE RADIUS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT PRESENTLY BEING MANUFACTURED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEED. WE WERE LUCKY TO SECURE THE ITEM AND HAVE IT OVERNIGHTED. THE LACK OF PARTS AND ALLEGED HOLD ON MANUFACTURING DREW THE ASSUMPTION THAT 1) THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THE SAME MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AND/OR 2) ADDITIONAL RECALL WAS IMMINENT. HE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED ME TO CONTACT CHRYSLER TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT AND OFFERED TO ACT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AND TESTIMONY TO WHAT HE ENCOUNTERED. FCA (CHRYSLER) WAS NOT RESPONSIVE.