NHTSA Complaint #11012291 — 2012 DODGE DURANGO

DRIVING LOCALLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A WHIZZING SOUND FROM UNDER HOOD. I PULLED OVER NOISE STOPPED. CONTINUED DRIVING ON 40MPH ROAD AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, RPM INDICATOR ERRATIC. NOT TOO FAR FROM HOME AN ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. MADE IT HOME SAFELY. CALLED DODGE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ABOUT RECALL, SPECIFICALLY THE 2015 ALTERNATOR RECALL TO SEE IF SOMEHOW MY VEHICLE WAS MISSED ON THAT RECALL. VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED SO TOOK TO MECHANIC. HE HAS HAD AN EXTREMELY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY FEW DAYS TRYING TO REPAIR. SEEMED JUST LIKE THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACING BUT THEN HE SAID BATTERY WAS DEAD. REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY AND THAT WAS KILLED. HE CHARGED BATTERIES SEPARATELY AND THEY WERE FINE, SOON AS THEY WERE PUT INTO CAR THEY WERE QUICKLY DRAINED. HE SUSPECTED COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS SHOT. CALLED IN SPECIALIST TO CONFIRM. MEANWHILE I SEE THERE IS AN UPCOMING RECALL T36 FOR THIS EXACT SUDDEN ALTERNATOR FAILURE ISSUE (WHICH MINE SHOULD FALL UNDER) BUT NOTICES NOT GOING OUT UNTIL 8/24/17. ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!!! I'VE READ THE RECENT COMPLAINTS AND SOME PEOPLE WERE DRIVING WHEN THEIR WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND CAR SHUT DOWN. I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I WASN'T DRIVING WHILE MY COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED AND ALSO LUCKY THAT I WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN SMELL STARTED, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL THESE ALTERNATORS CAN START FIRES. HOW CAN THEY ANNOUNCE THIS RECALL MID JULY BUT NOT NOTIFY AFFECTED CONSUMERS FOR 7 WEEKS? RIGHT NOW MY VIN IS STILL NOT LISTED UNDER ANY RECALL. IT MOST BETTER BE OR IT WILL BE HANDLED IN A LEGAL MANNER. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD MY PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS, AND IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST 2-3 MORE. NOT TO MENTION THE THOUSANDS THAT I HAVE TO COME UP WITH FOR PARTS, HOURS WORTH OF LABOR, AND SPECIALIST TO REPROGRAM NEW COMPUTER.