NHTSA Complaint #11349234 — 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD ALTERNATOR WHINE SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL GEAR AND WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND OPENED THE HOOD AND HE SAW FIRE COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH SMOKE AS THE VEHICLE RAN FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES. THE FLAMES TURNED INTO SMOKE WITH THE ALTERNATOR BURNING UP. THE COMPUTER, THE BATTERY AND OTHER SYSTEMS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE DONE BACK IN 2017. THE CONTACT SUSPECTS THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR FROM THAT PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ASTORG JEEP (1601 13TH ST, PARKERSBURG, WV 26101 304-485-5555). THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW COMPUTER, AN ALTERNATOR AND A BATTERY. THEY PLAN TO INSTALL THOSE NEW PARTS AND SEE WHAT OTHER PARTS WERE DAMAGED AND ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.