10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 38
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,440 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Dodge Charger electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Dodge Charger Owner Comments (Page 11 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #158

Aug 202014

Charger

  • 70,049 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving home at approximately 45mph, the message screen indicated "battery saver mode". at this time, the radio shut itself off, the air conditioning switched to full-blast heat, the speedometer stopped working, all lights shut off, the windshield wipers came on for a few swipes and then stopped, and the throttle response to the accelerator pedal would only allow me to reach around 30mph (on a 50mph highway). I managed to get the car into my neighborhood, but it died before I could park it. I had to put it in neutral and push it into a parking space.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #157

Oct 032014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
I was pulling into the residential area that I live in at approximately 17 mph and my stereo shut off, and I noticed on the dashboard a warning message that read "power saving mode" then the ABS light and the stability control light came on along with the lightning bolt came on, then the air shut off and it felt like the heater was turned on, the dashboard show the temperature being 105 and there was a weird smell that came through the ac vents. I was able to push the vehicle into my driveway and upon opening the hood of the vehicle you could feel the heat immediately and when attempting to jump start the car the car would turn on but then when the jumper cables where removed the vehicle's wipers began to wipe and the same issues as before began occurring. I called one of my friends that is a Dodge technician and he said that based on the information I told him he was 95% sure that it was a bad alternator. This is a 2011 Dodge Charger with 66,000 miles. This should be recalled immediately to help those that have had this problem and to avoid any more owners have this problem.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #156

May 012014

Charger

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the front passenger side headlight burned out on three different occasions. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer for all three repairs to replace the bulb. However, the failure recurred. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V101000 (electrical). The contact notified the dealer and they indicated that the parts were not available. The dealer was unable to provide a specific date when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was also contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was not available.

- Riverdale, IL, USA

problem #155

Sep 172014

Charger

  • 46,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2011 Dodge Charger had a smell of a burnt altenator. Car ABS light came on and my radio turned off and there was a whining noise in the engine compartment. The car has electrical problems, the battery is in a power save mode I have not gone to the dealer yet. Its my 3rd incident with the car. Headlights and brakes. I will have to get it towed, I don't trust to drive it. It running on the battery only. It needs to be recalled

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #154

Oct 312013

Charger

  • 87,000 miles
I had pulled out of a parking lot maybe made it half a mile. The ABS light came on the traction light came smoke was pouring out the hood. Before I could pull in the parking lot my lights went out before I could safely get in a place to park my steering would not work. My car has very few miles on it and has been taken care of. The car was completely dead. If you look back on this car an all the recalls. There is complaint after complaint on alternators.

- Greensboro , GA, USA

problem #153

Sep 212014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
Driving on the road at about 75 mph (the speed limit at the time) in the middle of nowhere Texas, my electrical systems started to shut down. The first thing we noticed turn off was the audio system and it wouldn't turn back on, then the climate control system. I checked the messages on my dashes message center and it told me the vehicle was in battery saver mode. Shortly thereafter (maybe another minute or two) the ABS and traction control indicators came on and all my gauges (speedometer and whatnot) all dropped to zero. The car was still in motion and we were lucky enough to find a road to pull off at (though we were no where near anything at the time). At that point I noticed the power steering, locks, windows, and anything electric went on the car too. After we turned off the car, it would not restart. After dealing with Chrysler and getting myself, my family, and my car back from midland to austin, it turns out the alternator went on it. This should not be an issue this early (approximately 26,000 miles) in the life of my car. Hopefully this gets added to the ongoing investigation (NHTSA action number: PE14022) for this issue.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #152

Sep 292014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 54,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started driving my vehicle from work. When all of a sudden my whole dashboard lite up with the "ABS light, power saver mode, and the traction control light. While attempting to pull over the vehicle my radio power off and the vehicle began making a "whining" noise. The engine shut off by itself. I pop the hood and while raising the hood white smoke appeared and I could smell something burning. My sister was present the whole time she was tailgating me in her vehicle. Let the car cool down and tried to restart it and the whining noise grew louder and upon starting it seem as if it did not want to start up but the dashboard was not lite up only the message on the dash about being in "power save mode". this was a scary situation for me and I do not feel comfortable driving my only means of transportation for me and my children. My sister gave me a ride home. I have contact the dealership and have an appointment for them to service the vehicle.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #151

Sep 292014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 29,000 miles
Driving approx 40 mph, battery saver mode indicator came on, car still drove fine. Next day on way into work, battery saver mode indicator was still on, approx speed while traveling to work was 70 mph, once I arrived at work, I started to smell something burning, I popped the hood and noticed a distinctive electrical burning smell. Tried starting car, and vehicle will not start. It wasn't till I looked at this website that I noticed all the other complaints referring to the same issue. Hopefully the dealership is aware of this issue now and will be able to repair the component without issues.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #150

Sep 232014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 66,600 miles
"battery save mode" I don't know what happen my car didn't want to start? I have had this car for about 1yr 1/2. checked battery levels they are fine. Then started drove the car for 2 days then died when I parked the car and tried to drive it again. But will not turn over.when traveling under the speed of 30mph the car becomes very hard to steer and feels like its going to shut off. I don't know what is wrong with it. I can't drive it anywhere to get a diagnosis on it.

- Reseda, CA, USA

problem #149

Sep 282014

Charger

  • 84,025 miles
I was driving my 2011 Dodge Charger when the battery light came on along with other lights. I also noticed the smell of burning wires. I stopped my vehicle and popped the hood. There was smoke coming from the alternator. Once the vehicle was off it would not start again. I had two mechanics look at it and tell me that the alternator seized. I called Dodge to see if they had heard about the issue and they seemed not to care. I was told that if there is a recall they would send out a notice. This is a very big issue if the alternator were to catch fire, car was in traffic, or even an electrical surge to the vehicle.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #148

Sep 242014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 75,868 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on the highway at 50 mph and saw the ABS light and traction control light come on, then the car said battery saver mode. After that it died on the side of the road and nothing would come on. I had no hazards lights that would work. I was totally helpless. I thought the car was on fire due to the extreme smell of burning wires. Upon further investigation it was the alternator that burnt up and put the car compltly out of service. Dodge is aware of this problem but said it is not warrantied and is not a safety issue. I think being stranded on the side of the road with no way of warning other drivers with safety hazards is really a safety issue. Thank god that is was not night time and that I was not on the interstate.

- New Gloucester, ME, USA

problem #147

Sep 222014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
I was driving the car and all of the electrical parts inside the car started flickering and eventually cut off in the middle of driving. I attempted to use the battery jumper kit I have and it would only work long enough to get the car in neutral to give it a push. Now no part of the car works unless connected to an alternate source of power.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #146

Sep 222014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 75,181 miles
While driving, the ABS alert light flashed on and we smelled an electrical burning odor. A few minutes later the radio consul went blank. There was a message that stated "battery saving mode". then several minutes later, several alert lights began blinking on/off. I could run the window down but the automatic one-touch feature stopped working initially and a few minutes later, I could not run the window up or down. Then the power steering went out as I was pulling into a parking lot. We smelled the electrical burning odor off and on during this entire time. I had the car towed to the dealership and was told the alternator had failed and had damaged the battery.

- Linwood, NC, USA

problem #145

Sep 042014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 35,005 miles
During driving, the radio turned off, and the dash lights lit up. Smoke started coming from under the hood. Car died on the road. Dealer diagnosed as a failure of the alternator which also caused the battery to fail.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #144

Sep 202014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
Was driving and the power saver mode came on the car. Saw smoke, checked the engine and the alternator was smoking. Something needs to be done. This car is 3 years old with 60,000 miles on it. That is ridiculous. The car has not went through anything stenos. We are at a lost for words and then when called and asked about it there is nothing that can be done without further investigation. Please investigate, there are too many complaints about this. This is costing over 800 dollars, this is ridiculous on a low mile low year car, right after the warranty goes out. Please investigate and do something, thanks.

- Orangeburg, SC, USA

problem #143

Sep 192014

Charger

  • 49,700 miles
My battery saver mode came up on screen then my ABS & traction control lights came on so I took my car to dealer and they checked it out and said all systems were fine as I drove my car home the battery saver mode, ABS and traction control lights came on again and I began smelling a burnt smell from engine so I opened up the hood and my alternator was smoking and looked fried all electrical was down nothing works now no power to car at all, needless to say car is being towed back to dealer now and hopefully they will fix it this time and not put my family at risk of being burned or harmed.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #142

Sep 182014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 51,039 miles
While I was driving to work my radio went out and ABS lights and what not started flashing. My car died and I pulled to the side of the road. I could smell something burning that smelled electrical. I popped open the hood and seen the alternator smoking. I just took my car in for an oil change the day prior. I'm sure if there was something wrong they could of told me. Dodge doesn't support their equipment. I'm sure I am not the first person this has happen to. They need to be investigated for their alternators.

- Fountain , CO, USA

problem #141

Sep 142014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
Was driving car when radio shut off, ABS brake warning came on and car lost steering and brake power. Got car home and it stopped running. Tried to jump and drive to dealer but could not keep engine running, power worked off and on. Too dangerous to drive on highway with possible loss of control. $800 to replace alternator.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #140

Sep 162014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 56,789 miles
The battery saver light came on while driving. The engine light also came on and the ABS light only while turning the wheel. Stopped and shut off the car. It smelled like a electrical burning coming threw the vents went out to opened the hood and saw alot of smoke coming from the alternator. Looks like it was on fire!! got back into the car and had not power to anything. Battery was dead. Could not get into the truck to check and disconnect the battery. Had to jump the battery to open the truck to disconnect the battery. Got a alternator from the dealer, the only place I could get it, the auto parts stores do not stock them. I guess its too expensive!!! it cost me $570 for the alternator and I put it on my self. Charged the battery and started the car all good, no problems.. I was lucky the car did not burn up...

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #139

Sep 162014

Charger 6-cyl

  • 37,000 miles
Driving at 25 mph, warning lights came on for different functions. Odd sound coming from motor. The information message alert lit up. Checked it, and the message alert was "battery saver mode". odd smell (electrical) coming from the engine. Parked, closed windows, shut the car off. Went to restart car and it wouldn't start. Had a friend try to jump with cables, and it didn't work. Called for tow truck to come and take to dealer. I have a bumper to bumper lifetime warranty. Dealer can't "look" at it until tomorrow. It has been almost 2 hours wait for tow truck, (promised to be here an hour ago.)

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

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