What 200 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chrysler 300

ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK TODAY, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I GOT A BATTERY SAVER MODE MESSAGE. I HAD BEEN GETTING THE MESSAGE A FEW DAYS NOW AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF IT. A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE COMMUTE, I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL OF THE VEHICLES SYSTEMS START TO SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR JUST DIES (WHILE I'M DRIVING IT)! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT USING THE MOMENTUM OF THE CAR, BUT I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO USE MY HAZARD LIGHTS. IT HAD COMPLETELY DIED. SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO STANDARDS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10663400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 02/18/15*LJ

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITH STRONG BURNING ODOR. DEALER HAS IDENTIFIED THAT ALTERNATOR BLEW AND CAUSED BLOWN BATTERY. ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL DAMAGE POSSIBLE. DEALER SAYS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR REPAIRS AND HOPE TO GET REIMBURSED WHEN CHRYSLER BEGINS NOTIFICATION OF RECALL PROCESS. *TR

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ON THE AFTERNOON OF 11/5/2014 I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 45-50 MPH WHEN I NOTICED MY 2011 CHRYSLER 300 MAKING A WHINING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I SMELLED WHAT SEEMED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY ABS AND ESC LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. A MESSAGE STATING "BATTERY SAVING MODE" APPEARED ON THE HUD AND EVERYTHING BEGAN TO SHUTDOWN. I HAD ZERO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND BRAKING. WHAT'S SO BAD IS THAT I HAD MY 20 MONTH OLD AND MY 10 YEAR OLD KIDS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR AND ENDED UP HAVING TO GET IT TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. *TR

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ON SATURDAY 11-1-14 I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THERE WAS A SLIGHT HESITATION STARTING. NO WARNINGS WERE PRESENT EVEN WHEN I REVIEWED ALL THE POSSIBLE ONES VIA THE INFORMATION CENTER. I DROVE THE CAR TO 2 DESTINATIONS AND WITH EACH START I NOTICED THE SAME HESITATION WITH INCREASING TIME. AGAIN NO MESSAGES PROVIDED BY THE VEHICLE. ON THE 3RD DESTINATION THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL EVEN WITH ATTEMPTS TO JUMP START THE CAR. I THEN PURCHASED A BATTERY AND DROVE TO THE AUTO ZONE NEARBY AND THEIR TESTER REVEALED A DEAD BATTERY SO LOW THAT A JUMP WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER WITH THE INFO ABOUT RECALL P60 DATED 10-8-14 THAT MY VEHICLE PERFECTLY MATCHED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THEN I HAD 4 EPISODES OF FULL PANEL ALARMS DISPLAYED AND LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER. AUTO HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BATTERY SAVER MODE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

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SATURDAY MORNING, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY 'BATTERY SAVING MODE' LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. THEN THE WIPERS WENT ON. NUMEROUS OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING TROUBLE. THE RADIO WENT OFF ON ITS OWN AND I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO GET IT BACK ON AND NO LUCK. THE ON SCREEN PRINT CHANGED TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO HEAD TO THE DEALER AND ON THE EXIT RAMP, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER. LUCKILY, WAS IN ONE OF THE TWO LANES AND CARS WERE ABLE TO GO AROUND ME. A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD WITNESSED MY TROUBLE ON THE HIGHWAY PULLED OVER TO HELP ME. I COULDN'T EVEN UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS OR OPEN THE TRUNK (WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED) AND HE COULD NOT GET IN AS I HAD THE SEAT PULLED FORWARD TO DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT BUDGE DUE TO NO ELECTRIC POWER. I HAD POLICE WAIT BEHIND ME FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. THE DEALER ADVISED THIS MORNING AFTER DOING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE ALTERNATOR BURNED UP THE BATTERY AND I HAVE TO HAVE BOTH OF THEM REPLACED! COST IS APPROX. $1100. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY ADVISED THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. MY ISSUES SOUND IDENTICAL TO OTHERS REPORTED HERE! HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THIS BE ACCEPTABLE? ALSO THIS IS MY 4TH CHRYSLER 300. I AM VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY ITSELF IN THE MIDST OF RUSH HOUR. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING AND MY BATTERY SAFE MODE LIGHT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGAN DISPLAYING OTHER LIGHTS SUCH AS MY ENGINE LIGHT AND A CAR WITH SKID LINES BELOW IT LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER IN MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING MY OTHER LIGHTS BEGAN TO TURN ( MIND YOU IT IS 9:30 ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT). MY CAR BEGINS TO STALL WHILE I HAVE MY SON, AND 3 OTHER CHILDREN IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD (SAFELY WITH MY LIGHTS OUT) INTO A SCHOOL. NEVER ONE DID I GET A WARNING THAT MY CAR WOULD SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON IN HOPES OF GETTING BACK UP AND RUNNING AND TO NO AVAIL. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN ON MY WAY HOME ON A BUSY I-10 HWY. LUCKILY I WAS DROPPING MY BROTHER OFF AND NEVER MADE IT ON THE HWY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW 3 YEARS AGO AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND I PAID FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE ALTERNATOR BUT WHEN I REQUESTED MY DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR BACK THEY REFUSED TO GIVE IT TO ME WITHOUT PAYING THEM AN ADDITIONAL FEE. I WANTED TO TAKE THE ALTERNATOR TO GET INSPECTED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. *TR

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IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC GOING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER, THE RADIO FLICKERED ON OFF AND MY CAR WAS STILL GOING BUT MY GAUGES THE RADIO, NOTHING WORKED. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A MAC TRUCK, TRYING TO CROSS OVER THREE LANES TO GET TO THE SERVICE ROAD. THE ENGINE STALLED, IT WAS HARD TO STEER AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A GAS STATION NEARBY. THREE PEOPLE TRIED TO GIVE ME A JUMP AND NOTHING WOKED AND THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNINGS. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK ONLY TO FIND THAT MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE FRIED. THE WORST THING IS I CALLED CHRYSLER TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE P60 RECALL AND THEY DID NOT OWN UP TO THE DEFAULT UNTIL THE SECOND TIME I CALLED FROM DOING MY OWN RESEARCH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD FOR ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD DO AFTER THE ENGINE STALLED. I HAVE OWNED THREE DIFFRENT 300S OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST. SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO ISSUES THAT DESERVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE SPENT ALL DAY ON THE PHONE TRYING TO REPLACE THIS PART AND THE ONLY PLACE THAT CARRIES THE PART IS CHRYSLER, WHAT A RIPOFF. THIS WILL COST ME OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A CAR THAT I HAVE NOT HAD A YEAR AND CURRENTLY STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. *TR

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ON MORNING OF 10/24/14 WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED A MESSAGE CAME ON STATING "BATTERY SAVING MODE" LOOKED AT MANUAL THERE WAS NO INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT THAT MEANT. THEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, WHILE DRIVING THE RPM INDICATOR WOULD MOVE UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT, TRACTION AND ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER THE WARNING CAME ON THE CAR DESPITE PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THEN A RATTLING NOISE CAME ON SO I QUICKLY PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY. AS I TRIED TO DO THAT THE STEERING STARTED LOCKING UP, I HAD TO PUSH VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND STOP IT. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, UNABLE TO TURN ON OR OPERATE ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE JUMP STARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHARGE UP THE BATTERY AND NOW THEY BELIEVE AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE MAY BE THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO STALL. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING WHEN I SMELLED A "BURNING MARSHMALLOW" SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ABS LIGHT, A CAR WITH ZIGZAGS ICON, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED ON MY SCREEN. FOLLOWED BY THE RADIO, AIR VENTS, AND POWER STEERING SHUTTING ITSELF ON AND OFF. WITHIN 1-2 MILES MY CAR WAS DONE. MY ALTERNATOR WAS TOAST. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL ON THE 3.6 L ENGINE, 160 AMP ALTERNATORS. SO UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY PUT ANOTHER OEM ALTERNATOR IN MY CAR. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT CHRYSLER SENT ME TO, REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A DIFFERENT ONE THAT ISN'T RECALLED. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE CHRYSLER HASN'T "LAUNCHED" THE RECALL YET. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS? WHEN THE RECALL IS LAUNCHED I WILL HAVE TO AGAIN REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. APPROX. NOV. 28, 2014. HOPEFULLY I WON'T EXPERIENCE A FRYING OUT ALTERNATOR BEFORE THEN. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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ON OCTOBER 11, 2014 I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TWICE THAT DAY. THAT EVENING WHILE DROPPING MY LITTLE COUSIN BACK HOME, MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING, LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THE CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, NO POWER OR NOTHING. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN CHRYSLER. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR NOT EVEN FIVE MONTHS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED. NOW IT'S JUST SITTING IN MY YARD AND I AM HAVING TO CATCH A TAXI TO WORK. IT TO BEAUTIFUL OF A CAR TO JUST SIT THERE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND THEY WANT $800.00 TO REPAIR. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT, BECAUSE ALL OF MY MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS TAXI FARE, AND THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER REPAIRS. JUST IMAGINE IF I WERE DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND THIS HAPPENED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE BATTERY SAVER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

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DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM CAR, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE DOOR AND BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, THE RADIO SHUT OFF, GAUGES STOPPED WORKING, POWER STEERING STOPPED, BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING, WIPERS CAME ON AND CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STALL AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. ALL DOORS LOCKED AND WINDOWS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND I ALMOST GOT TRAPPED IN IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD ALTERNATOR WHICH RUINED MY BATTERY. WAS CHARGED NEARLY $1,000.00. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE COLLISION, ABS, AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 10/31/14*LJ UPDATED 4/28/2015 *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT ABOUT 10:30 PM MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. MY CONSOLE WENT BLACK AND UNRESPONSIVE, THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING, THE CAR WAS DINGING BEFORE ANY OF THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON, THE WINDOWS WEREN'T WORKING CONSISTENTLY, THE A/C STOPPED WORKING, AND EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND GET THE CAR TO A GAS STATION. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT NIGHT. THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE THE NEXT MORNING WAS THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FOUR DAYS LATER THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS GONE AND THAT THE BATTERY WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT MY REQUEST CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED AND THE NEARLY $1000 REPAIR BILL WAS REDUCED TO A THIRD WITH CHRYSLER PICKING UP ALL BUT THE DIAGNOSTICS AND THE COST OF THE BATTERY AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500.

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I WAS ON INTERSTATE 40 WHEN I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE JUST AS I TOOK MY EXIT. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WENT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND SOON AS I PULLED IN MY VEHICLE BEGAN SHUTTING DOWN. THE MESSAGE SAID IT COULD NOT DETECT MY KEY AND IT WAS GOING INTO BATTERY SAVING MODE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, ALL POWER WAS LOST AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, I WAS UNABLE TO ROLL UP MY WINDOWS AND LOCK MY DOORS. IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND THE GAS STATION WAS CLOSED I HAD TO ENLIST HELP FROM STRANGERS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I ENDED UP STAYING AT A HOTEL OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP AND GET TO THE NEAREST AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAILING. I AM NOW IN A POSITION WHERE I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH THE LIGHTS ON,WHICH MEANS I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT I CAN'T USE THE AC AND IT IS JULY, OR DRIVE WITH THE RADIO ON UNTIL I AM ABLE TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I AM RUNNING OFF OF BATTERY POWER ALONE UNTIL THIS PROBLEM GETS FIXED. *TR

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FIRST NOTICED A "WHINING" NOISE WHEN IDLING THAT INCREASED AS I ACCELERATED. I HAD A BURNING SMELL, NOT SURE HOW IT WAS RELATED. NEXT SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS "BATTERY SAVER MODE" MESSAGE ON ELECTRONIC DISPLAY. SOON AFTER, REVERSE CAMERA STOPPED WORKING, THE RADIO TURNED OFF BY ITSELF, REAR DEFROSTER AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DIDN'T WORK. LAST SIGN WAS TRACTION CONTROL & ABS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. RIGHT AS I PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP, CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER (NO STEERING, WIPERS CAME ON, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH FLASHED AND HEADLIGHTS WERE FLASHING). 2 DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS BUT ONLINE SEARCHES SEEMED TO INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. *TR

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THE FIRST OCCURRED 4 DAYS EARLIER AND IT HAD BURNT OUT MY BATTERY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT UNTIL NEXT WEEK AND HAD NO LOANER CAR FOR ME. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED. THEY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OUT ON THE COMPUTER, WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND MUST OF BEEN THE BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 4 DAYS LATER, BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE ABS AND ANTI-SKID LIGHTS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, RADIO CUT OFF AND THEN LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION. COASTED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE THERE WAS THE ODOR OF ELECTRICAL SHORT AND BURNING. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED 4 DAYS EARLIER. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WAS TOLD BY SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLES. MILEAGE IS 36,800. *TR

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WHILE COMING A STOP, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED A 'SYSTEM ERROR' LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. TRAFFIC WAS IMPEDED AND A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS WERE NARROWLY AVOIDED. AFTER TOWING IT TO THE DEALER, I'M TOLD THAT THE LIKELY CULPRIT IS THE ALTERNATOR WHICH "ARE KNOWN TO GO OUT ON THESE CARS, RIGHT AROUND THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY," ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. WARRANTY ON THIS PART IS 36,000 MILES AND MY CAR WAS AT 36,650 MILES. AFTER YELLING AND SCREAMING, THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE COULD LOWER THE COST FROM $1,100 TO $900. WHEN PRESSED, HE SAID THE PRICE FOR THE ALTERNATOR ALONE WAS $600, EXCLUDING ANY LABOR. I AM FURIOUS THAT THIS IS A 'KNOWN PROBLEM' AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AND FROM THE LIST OF OTHER COMPLAINANTS ON THIS SITE, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND ADDRESS IT. MY OPTIONS ARE LIMITED. I NEED MY CAR BACK. HOPEFULLY, WHEN I GET IT RETURNED TO ME, THE PROBLEM WILL BE GONE. BUYER BEWARE, APPARENTLY, THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM. *JS

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MY RADIO SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN THE BATTERY SAVER MODE CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. I CALLED THE DEALER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT ISSUE AND BRING IT NEXT DAY TO BE CHECKED. WHILE I ATTEMPTING TO TURN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND LOCKED UP IN THE INTERSECTION. I HAD NO STEERING AND EVERY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE DASHBOARD. I WAS THEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ON AN 8 LANE HIGHWAY. A SEPARATE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THIS BECAUSE I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE FLASHERS TO WORK. LUCKILY THE DEALER WAS RIGHT UP THE STREET AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND IT WOULD COST $800 TO REPLACE IT. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN ON A NEWER CAR AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHERS EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE. *TR

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