NHTSA Complaint #11012426 — 2013 CHRYSLER 300

ON 20170731 MY 2013 CHRYSLER 300S SHOWED BATTERY SAVER INDICATOR ON IGNITION. IT ALSO EMITTED A FUNNY SMELL. I PARKED THE VEHICLE. AAA CAME OUT, AND THE TECHNICIAN CHANGED THE BATTERY. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. WHAT THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED AS THE ALTERNATOR STARTING SMOKING AND GLOWING. IT HAD BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. HE HAD TO THROW HIS WATER ON IT TO PUT IT OUT. I READ AN ARTICLE CNBC.COM FROM 20170714 SAYING CHRYSLER 300 VEHICLES HAD ALTERNATOR FIRE RISKS: HTTPS://WWW.CNBC.COM/2017/07/14/FIAT-CHRYSLER-RECALLS-1-POINT-33-MILLION-VEHICLES.HTML . I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM CHRYSLER OF SUCH A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL SERVICE OFFICE HAS HAD MY ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AFTER TOWING TO CHRYSLER SERVICE IN SAN JOSE, THE SERVICE MANAGER IN SAN JOSE AND THEIR ONLINE CHAT HELP PERSON SAID THAT THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REP REFUTED THAT THE ANNOUNCED RECALL WAS FOR AN ALTERNATOR EVEN THOUGH THE ARTICLE CLEARLY SAYS "THE AUTOMAKER IS ALSO RECALLING 565,000 VEHICLES TO REPLACE THEIR ALTERNATORS BECAUSE OF FIRE RISKS. THE COMPANY SAID HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE DIODE WEAR, MAY RESULT IN A BURNING ODOR OR SMOKE, COULD IMPACT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM OR LEAD TO ENGINE STALLS." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I EXPERIENCED AND THE ARTICLE SAYS IT APPLIED TO MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. I NEED TO MAKE SURE CHRYSLER/DODGE IS FOLLOWING UP ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD DIE. NOT ONLY AM I ON THE HOOK FOR $1K IN COSTS FOR SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A MANUFACTURER HAZARD. I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF RELATED EXAMINATION/REPLACEMENT WILL OCCUR ON MY VEHICLE... I NEED TO KNOW THAT PROPER PRECAUTION IS TAKEN. FOR REFERENCE THE AAA CONTRACTED TECHNICIAN WAS FROM GREAT AMERICA TOW IN SAN JOSE, CA. I CAN PROVIDE A REFERENCE NUMBER FOR HIS VISIT IF CONTACTED. HE MAY PROVIDE MORE USEFUL OBSERVATIONS.