What 648 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger EV

AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN AND LOSE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SPUTTER AT 10 MPH FOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLES ELECTRONICS WERE SHUTTING DOWN THE WHOLE TIME AND WEIRD ELECTRICAL ACTIVATION'S STARTED OCCURRING OR FREEZING ON THEIR OWN SUCH AS LIGHTS, SENORS, WIPERS, RADIO ETC. I COULD ALSO SMELL A BURNT ODOR EMITTING FROM THE AIR VENTS. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT START AND HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE ENGINE AND SAW SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR AND SMELLED BURNT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 01-22-18 AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE ALTERNATOR FAILING DUE TO THE RECALL BUT THERE WAS NO FIX YET FROM CHRYSLER. THEY STATED THE QUICK FIX IS REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK UNTIL THEY DISCOVER WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THE RECALL. TODAY IS 01-24-18 AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER IS WAITING APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER TO INSTALL A NEW ALTERNATOR SINCE THERE IS NO EXACT FIX FOR THE RECALL YET. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL COMPUTER PROBLEM, WIRING PROBLEM OR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY MAY INSTALL A NEW ALTERNATOR TODAY (01-24-18) AND THEY HAD TO ORDER IT. I HAVE BEEN WITH NO VEHICLE SINCE 01-18-18 DUE TO THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER NOT PROBLEM SOLVING THEIR MISTAKE. I'M GLAD I DIDN'T CRASH OR WAS IN THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST POWER BUT MY SON WAS SCARED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I CANT IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THINGS HAD NOT GONE THE WAY THEY DID. SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY GET INJURED AT THE EXPENSE OF CHRYSLER FAILING TO FIND A FIX. WOULD THIS FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW?

NHTSA ODI 11064636

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AS IT STALLED. AN EYEWITNESS PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY DUE TO SMOKE FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (ATLANTIC CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 130 SUNRISE HWY, WEST ISLIP, NY 11795) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE REMEDY PART FOR THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER OFFERED ANOTHER ALTERNATOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 32419564. THE CASE WAS ESCALATED IT AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A MANAGER RETURN THE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 11/12/17/*BF UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN UPDATED 7/17/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 11023914

LEAVING WORK I NOTICED MY RADIO SUDDENLY TURNED OFF, DISPLAY SHOWED POWER SAVER MODE. I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND BY CELL PHONE AND HE ADVISED ME TO STOP DRIVING IT BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS OF FIRES, CRASHES AND LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS TURNING ON TO MY STREET AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL POWER IN THE CAR. I WAS COASTING TO PARK AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND CAME DOWN TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT TURN VEHICLE ON AT ALL. NOW, I DRIVE OUR CAR TO AND FROM WORK, A 15 MINUTE TRIP 6 DAYS A WEEK. WE REGULARLY KEEP OUR VEHICLE SERVICED. THIS CAR IS COMING ON A 2 YEAR ANNIVERSAY AND I HAVE PAID FOR A NEW BATTERY, PARTS/LABOR AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT THE ALTERNATOR IS MAKING A NOISE AND THAT IT CAN LAST FROM 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR OR DIE A WEEK FROM NOW. HOW DRAMATIC IS THAT? CHRYSLER GAVE ME A CASE # AND ADIVSED ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT BEFORE THEY OFFERED COST ASSISTANCE. THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EITHER COMPANY CAN GIVE ME TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF A LIFE IN MY FAMILY. PLEASE KEEP US SAFE AND FIX THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES OFF OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT EVEN MORE UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616870