NHTSA Complaint #11018642 — 2012 CHRYSLER 300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE AND A BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS. ALSO THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE NOISE GREW LOUDER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER. AS THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT AND ENGAGE INTO PARK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE WIPER BLADES INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED. THE PUSH TO START/STOP BUTTON FAILED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BATTERY FAILED TO HOLD A CHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DARCARS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF MARLOW HEIGHTS (5060 AUTH WAY, SUITLAND, MD 20746 (301) 423-5111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR AND SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT DARCARS DUE TO THE COST; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V240000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PEP BOYS AUTO PARTS & SERVICE (6333 MARLBORO PIKE, FORESTVILLE, MD 20747 (301) 967-9140) WHERE THE ALTERNATOR AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE CONTACT AS UNAWARE IF A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.