NHTSA Complaint #10883560 — 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER

I OWN A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 8. CHRYSLER ISSUED 2 TSBS IN 2014 ABOUT THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE POSSIBLY FRACTURING, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK, AND RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. CHRYSLER WILL PAY FOR THE ENGINE DAMAGE IF THE CHAIN BREAKS IF IT OCCURS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, THEY WILL NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE GUIDE TO PREVENT THE CHAIN FROM BREAKING. THESE TWO TSBS, NUMBERS CSN-P-01 AND 09-PO-11-82, AFFECT 2009 ' 2012 CHRYSLER 300S, AND DODGE CHARGERS AND CHALLENGERS. THE SECOND TSB SAYS IT AFFECTS A "NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF VEHICLES'. A DODGE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED THE OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO REPLACE THE GUIDE IS AROUND $2000. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, NOT A TSB. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. THIS COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN A SERIOUS CRASH IF THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE SECOND OR THIRD LANE OF A BUSY 4 LANE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OVER TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS, AND IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER TO TRY TO RUN FROM THE VEHICLE TO A SHOULDER. IN 2015, CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2011 ' 2014 CHRYSLER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR MAY SUDDENLY FAIL. IT STATES, 'IF THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, THE VEHICLE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' SO, IF CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE AN ALTERNATOR MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING DUE TO A GUIDE THAT MAY FRACTURE, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL, HAS RESULTED IN ONLY TSBS BEING ISSUED AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS THE COST OF TO THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE THE DEALERSHIPS FOR REPLACING AN ALTERNATOR VS. REPLACING A TIMING CHAIN GUIDE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT COMPLAINT BE REMOVED FROM THE SYSTEM. UPDATED 07/22/16*LJ *JS