NHTSA Complaint #10883525 — 2013 CHRYSLER 300

ON 7.4.16 AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM, I WAS AT A TRAFFIC INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. SUDDENLY, MY CAR RADIO SHUT DOWN, AND ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN, A 'BATTERY SAFE MODE' MESSAGE APPEARED. THEN THE LIGHTS WENT DIM, THE INFO-SCREEN FLASHED WHITE, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED MOVING VERY SLOWLY. AT THAT POINT, I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF, BUT THE SHIFTER WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. THEN, ALL THE SCREENS WENT OUT AND THE CAR DIED. I CALLED MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TO EITHER JUMP OR TOW MY CAR. THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED UP AND TRIED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE 180 AMP ALTERNATOR WAS FRIED (IN THEIR WORDS) AND THE ALTERNATOR FRIED THE BATTERY AS WELL. THE REPAIRS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS! (NOTE) THE FIRST NEW ALTERNATOR THEY INSTALLED WAS FAULTY. FOR A CAR UNDER 3 YEARS OLD, MAINTAINED IMPECCABLY, THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE AN ALTERNATOR FAIL IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON A 160 AMP ALTERNATOR IN THE CHRYSLER 300. I ASKED AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER FOR BOTH THE 160 AND 180 AMP ALTERNATORS IS THE SAME. THE RECALL (OCTOBER 8, 2014) FOR THE SMALLER 160 AMP ALTERNATOR IS ; NHTSA RECALL #14V-634, AND CHRYSLER RECALL # P60 RESPECTIVELY. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON BOTH ALTERNATORS. CHRYSLER CORP. SHOULD TAKE A PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE STANCE AT THIS POINT.