NHTSA Complaint #11701197 — 2025 DODGE CHARGER

I leased a brand-new 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV. About 2 weeks after receiving the vehicle, a severe and dangerous incident occurred. I had driven approximately 2 miles at normal residential speeds with my baby in the back seat. After parking and walking toward the entrance of the home, I turned around and saw both rear wheels glowing bright red, radiating extreme heat, as if they were about to ignite. The temperature was so high that when I poured water onto the wheels, it instantly evaporated into steam. It appeared the back end of the vehicle was on the verge of catching fire. This happened during normal, low-speed driving with an infant in the vehicle, creating a direct and immediate risk to my child’s safety. This was not caused by hard braking, aggressive driving, or any impact. The vehicle had very low mileage and was being operated under normal conditions. In addition to this near-fire thermal event, the vehicle has multiple serious electrical malfunctions: • The key fob frequently fails to unlock the doors or open the trunk, leaving us stuck outside the vehicle. • The vehicle sometimes remains powered “on” even after pressing the button to shut it off. • These issues are unpredictable and raise further safety concerns. I reported the incident to Dodge/Stellantis immediately. For over 4 weeks, Dodge has repeatedly delayed sending an inspector, and the vehicle still has not been examined. Because of the overheating, electrical failures, and the risk of fire — especially with a child in the vehicle — I have stopped driving the car entirely. It is unsafe to operate. This appears to be a major defect related to the EV propulsion system, electrical system, braking or drag, and/or thermal management system. I have video evidence of the event and the vehicle is available for inspection.