What 648 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger EV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, IT STALLED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGED AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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I HAD HE EXACT SAME ALTERNATOR FAILURE AS DESCRIBED BY THE DODGE CHARGER P60 RECALL. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN MY RADIO AND FRONT PANEL FLICKERED, THEN CUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK ON. MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS STAYED ON. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, I LOST POWER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE CENTER LANE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE, IT'S A POORLY LIT ROAD AND OF COURSE I HAD NO ELECTRICITY TO TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. WITH NO WAY TO POP THE TRUNK, I HAD TO CRAWL INTO IT VIA THE BACK SEAT TO GRAB FLARES (LUCKILY I HAD SOME-MOST PEOPLE DON'T). I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY SEVERAL CARS DURING THIS TIME. ALAS, THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND I WAS TAKEN TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE AVERAGE QUOTE FROM MECHANICS IN THE DC AREA IS ABOUT $800. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $970. THE 180AMP ALTERNATOR SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST AS THE 160AMP ALTERNATOR. ITS DEFECTIVE AND ITS A SAFETY RISK.

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MY 2012 DODGE CHARGER SXT HAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, MAINTENANCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE ON TIME. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED HEARING A NOISE FROM THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND BECAME LOUDER. THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO SUBSIDE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 MINUTES. THEN I OPENED THE HOOD AND AND THE SMELL OF BURNT WAS VERY STRONG. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE. HE COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR WHERE ACTING UP AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THE SYSTEM. HE ADVISED US ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR RECALL P60 AND SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS FOR THE ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER ALL SYMPTOMS OF THIS RECALL P60 WERE PRESENT IN MY CAR. WE TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY REFERRED US TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CONFIRMED THE COMPUTER WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND THEY SAID THAT ONLY THE DEALER COULD HELP WITH THAT. I CALLED THE DEALER AS WELL AND THEY SAID, THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER OR ANY OF THE COMPONENTS THE OTHER MECHANICS HAVE CONFIRMED FAILED IN THE CAR. CHRYSLER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ALTERNATOR ISSUE UNDER RECALL P60 AND NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, CAR RENTAL. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING CHRYSLER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR. MY VEHICLE IS RELATIVELY NEW AND I WAS NOT COUNTING ON HAVING TO PAY FOR SUCH A HEFTY REPAIR TO A NEW CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT SMALL SPARKS OF FLAMES IGNITED FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE TECHNICIAN EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,197.

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VEHICLE STALED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY LOST ALL DASH LIGHTS STEREO BACK UP CAMERA DEALERSHIP COULD NOT GET CAR IN FOR A WEEK HAD IT TOWED TO HOME BURNT NEXT DAY

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I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PULLED OUT OF MY GARAGE AS I DO EACH MORNING. AS I WENT DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AT ALMOST IDLE SPEED, I COULD FEEL A STRONG RESISTANCE (AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON) AND THE POWER STEERING TIGHTENED UP. SUDDENLY A STRONG BURNING SMELL FILLED THE CAR, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE AC FAN BLEW ON HIGH SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY REVERSED BACK TO THE GARAGE (100 FEET OR LESS) AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO PARK. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING BURNING UNDER THE HOOD AS THE SMELL FILLED THE GARAGE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN AAA ARRIVED TO TOW IT, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE DRIVER CHOSE NOT TO JUMP IT FOR FEAR OF DOING MORE DAMAGE. MY LOCAL TRUSTED MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 DODGE CHARGER ALTERNATORS AND HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR THAT HAD FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ARRIGO SAWGRASS DODGE WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD IN FACT FAILED AND WAS BURNING. HE SAID THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT COVER MY EXPENSES. MY 16 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE LUCKY WE WERE IN THE DRIVEWAY, LUCKY THE FIRE DIDN'T IGNITE WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING AND LUCKY MY SON (A NEW DRIVER) WAS NOT FACED WITH A TOTALLY DISABLED VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THIS FAILURE CREATED A HIGH RISK OF CRASH. HAD WE BEEN ON ANY ROAD INSTEAD OF MY DRIVEWAY, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

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WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APRX. 70 MPH, WHEN "BATTERY SAVER MODE" MESSAGE CAME ON. I DISCONNECTED PHONE CHARGER, TURNED OFF AUDIO, AC, AND DAYLIGHTS. SUDDENLY, THE DISPLAYS AND DASH NEEDLES WENT UP AND DOWN (LOOKED LIKE A COMPUTER VIRUS). THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND THE ALTERNATOR BURNED ( SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD). MY CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES, AND NEVER HAD SIGNS OF FAULTY OR NEAR-DEAD ALTERNATOR. WELL, THE NEW BATTERY $200, NEW 180 AMP ALTERNATOR WAS $500, PLUS LABOR. CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY THE RECALL P60 IS FOR 160 AMP ALTERNATOR, BUT IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 180 AMP ALTERNATOR. SO MY REPAIRS WERE OUT OF POCKET (WHICH IS JUST MONEY...VERY NEEDED MONEY), BUT BEING ALMOST HIT BY THE COMING I-95 TRAFFIC AND HAVING A CAR THAT IS ABOUT TO BURN, WELL THAT COULD HAVE ENDED IN A TRAGEDY. THANKS GOD MY INSURANCE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME TO HELP. STILL INTRIGUED WHY THIS 180 AMP ALTERNATOR IS NOT IN RECALL, WHEN ITS ALREADY A FACT THAT THIS "SMALL DEFECT" COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT . . .

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO TURNED OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED FLUCTUATING, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE JERKED, THE WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY, AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT SLID OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE, WHIPLASH, AND A CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP, STEER, AND TO CONTROL. UPDATED 10/9/15*JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BATTERY MODE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE RADIO FAILED TO OPERATE AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STALLED WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE BUT THE CABLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 12/30/14*CN UPDATED 05/27/2015 *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE AC VENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD BURNED OUT WHICH AFFECTED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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I LEFT OUT THE HOUSE TO GO PICK UP A FRIEND WHEN STARTED UP MY CAR I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN IT WENT AWAY AS I DROVE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT BATTERY SAVING MODE POPPED UP ON THE DASH BOARD SO I DRIVE IT TO MY FRIEND HOUSE WHO LIVES 5 MINUTES DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I STAY AS I WAS TURNING TO HIS HOME THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD KEEP POPPING UP ON DASH BOARD SO I PARKED MY CAR AT MY FRIEND HOUSE THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND ALL I COULD SMELL WAS BURNING WIRES AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR THEN I TRIED TO START UP MY CAR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD NO POWER AT ALL I CALLED MY INSURANCE TO GET A JUMP START THEY TRIED BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I CALLED TO GET IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE I HAD A MECHANIC COME OUT TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT IT WAS WRONG HE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. *TR

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COMPLAINT CONCERNING: NHTSA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION #PE14022 ON SATURDAY 9/13/14 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLASH THE ABS LIGHT. THEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THE TOUCH SCREEN WENT BLANK. MY RADIO AND A/C SHUT OFF, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THE MILEAGE METER READ 0, THAN STARTED TO READ MILES UP TO 80 MILES PER HOUR. I LOST POWER STEERING, AND THE POWER BRAKES!! MY CAR WAS 100% INOPERABLE!!! I TRIED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ALMOST HITTING SEVERAL MOTORIST AND PEDESTRIANS AS I HAD NOT CONTROL OVER THE BREAKS!!! MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED B/C I WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR STEER AND ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION!! I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED!! WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY, COULD NOT OPEN THE TRUNK, ETC. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY DODGE DEALER, THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, DRAIN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY! THE ALTERNATOR ON THIS CAR IS TOO WEAK FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE! REPAIRS COST ME $1,500 TOTAL, NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY! THIS CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS. OLD! THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A NEW CAR! I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. OFFICE AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE! SOME ONE WILL DIE DUE TO THIS TYPE OF VECHICLE FLAW! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-LOCK AND SKID WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH AND THE TPMS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH AND THAN I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND HEARING A LOUD HIGH PITCHED NOISE, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD CREATING A HAZARD, I GOT OUT QUICKLY AND POPPED THE HOOD AND SMOKE FLEW OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR AREA. TOOK CAR IN AND DODGE IS TRYING TO CHARGE 790.00 TO FIX THIS VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THE 3.6 2012 DODGE CHARGER SE. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE QUIT WORKING. I STOPPED AND CHECKED IT OUT AND THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON IF I TOUCHED THE CONNECTOR. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE BULB. THE BULB WAS INTERMITTENT. IF YOU TOUCHED THE CONNECTOR IT WOULD WORK. ULTIMATELY, THE CONNECTOR CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED OFF. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED! I AM SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER FOR THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND FULLY QUALIFIED TO ASSESS THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V042000-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIRE CONNECTOR WAS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,500. ..UPDATED 12-05-13 *BF

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