NHTSA Complaint #11376718 — 2011 DODGE DURANGO

ON AUGUST 22, 2020 WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM A RESTAURANT MY CAR COMPONENTS NOTIFIED ME OF A BATTERY ISSUE WITH THE RED LIGHT ON. I THEN KEPT DRIVING TO PARK THE CAR AND WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IT STARTED TO STALL UNUSUALLY BUT THE ENGINE CAR DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. THEN THERE WAS HEAT COMING IN FROM THE AIR CONDITION VENTS WITH A RUBBERY SMELL THEN I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I DID NOT WANT TO OPEN THE HOOD BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS AFRAID OPENING THE HOOD MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A FIRE FEEDING OXYGEN TO THE ENGINE. I CALLED USAA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND PROVIDED ME WITH A WRECKER WITH ASSUMED NAME SALLY'S TOWING SERVICE. THE WRECKER WAS UNABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR AND MOVIE IT NEUTRALLY. HE HAD TO FORCIBLY PULL THE CAR WITH THE TIRES LOCKED ONTO THE FLAT BED. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AT USA MOTORS. OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND FOUND A RARE OCCURRENCE IN WHICH THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGING THE BATTERY CAUSING THE BATTERY AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE TO MELT THUS CAUSING THE SMOKE AND FOUL ODOR AND THE CAR LEFT WITH NO POWER OR CONTROL.