NHTSA Complaint #11256309 — 2013 DODGE DURANGO

WIFE DROVE VEHICLE WITH NO ISSUE, AND AFTER ARRIVING HOME - WITH 3 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE; WHILE STATIONARY (IN PARK) & VEHICLE RUNNING (WHILE KIDS FINISHING WATCHING A VIDEO), SHE HEARD A 'TERRIBLE SQUEELING SOUND'; SHE SEQUENTIALLY CLOSED SUNROOF, TURNED OFF A/C, AND LOWERED SOUND LEVEL OF STEREO - SOUND PERSISTED. SHE TURNED CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON - SMOKE BEGAN TO BELLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS DISCHARGED THROUGH GRILL AREA BY A FAMILY MEMBER (WHO IS A CERTIFIED EMT/FIRE FIGHTER, IF THAT MATTERS), WHO DID NOT WANT TO OPEN THE HOOD. I ARRIVED ~15 MINUTES LATER, AND OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS CLEARLY SMOKING, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DISCOLORED ON THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY. CALLED AUTO SERVICE FOR TOW. WHEN WRECKER ARRIVED, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT NO ACTUATION OF THE SHIFTER WOULD WORK - AS NO POWER; TOW SERVICE HAD TO USE THE BYPASS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME CURSORY RESEARCH ON THIS PHENOMENON, FOUND AN OUTSTANDING RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (T36); I CALLED FOLLOWING DAY TO MAKE RECALL CLAIM. FCA "SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR" DID AN INVESTIGATION ON 9/10, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM - AND I HAVE CALLED NO FEWER THAN 4 TIMES INQUIRING. DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME LATE YESTERDAY HE RECEIVED APPROVAL TO PERFORM WORK ON THE TWO (2) OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON VEHICLE, BUT NOT COVERING DAMAGE DUE TO THE FIRE - AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT WAS RELAYED TO ME.