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.
At 10 P.M. 9/15. I was driving to the store. Information message popped up on display. Battery saver mode. The radio shut off and the car began to shake. There was also a whining noise heard from the engine compartment. The ABS brake light and electronic skid control lights were also on. I was already near the store. I pulled into the parking lot and parked the car. I opened the hood and could see smoke and smell smoke coming from the alternator. I tried to restart the car to get my windows up but it was dead. I couldn't start it even with jumper cables to get it back home. I had to call for a tow. I finally made it home a 1:00 am after waiting for tow. I couldn't imagine the lack of control had this happened on the freeway or during rush hour traffic. I need to purchase an alternator and battery today. Not looking forward to the bill. Sounds like bad designed parts. Hopefully something becomes of the investigation.
I was driving noticed my car had a slight louder sound coming from the engine like it was rived up. As I was driving I noticed the ABS lights came on; traction light; and engine light all flashed across the screen and went off. Then I started smelling a strong burning smell I had mad it to my destination cut the car off. I went to crank the car back up ;nothing happened car had lost all prior my windows, doors all locked up would not roll up or down or doors unlock had to call a tow truck. Car had no power completely black screens everything shutdown.
My 2011 Dodge Charger battery saving mode light is blinking on and off as well as my ABS/skid control then all of the sudden my vehicle starts slowing down on the highway while going the speed of 60 mph causing the car to lock up. My wife is 8 months pregnant and I feel like that not only put her in danger but my unborn child as well. This situation I feel needs to be recalled and fix asap before someone looses a loved one over a malfunction with these vehicles. I had to get my vehicle towed to the Dodge dealer who told me that my alternator went out and completely drained my battery in my car causing me to have to come out of pocket for both. I really don't drive my vehicle a lot for all these things to be happening I hope that the 2015 Dodge Charger is better...
I bought a 2011 Charger in 2012. Dec 11 2013 my son was stranded in the cold with a dead alternator. It cost a fortune for tow, new alternator, labor ($865). That is unacceptable for a 2 year old car and owners should be compensated.
At first my car started making a whining type of sound it seemed to be driving a little bit off. Then after driving down the street I noticed that the ABS light and the traction light was on, and a burnt electrical wire smell was coming through the vents. So I pulled over and parked and turned the vehicle off. I opened the hood and the smell of burnt wire was really bad. I decided to leave the vehicle where I had parked it, but wanted to roll up the windows. When I went to turn the car back on the car was completely dead. So long story short my relatively new car broke down on me. And this is not the first time this has happened to me. I previously owned a 2008 Dodge Charger that had the same issues. Its really a disappointment because the whole reason I traded in my old Charger for a new one was because I needed a reliable vehicle that I could depend on. And that is obviously not a Dodge.
- Aptos, CA, USA
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Car went into battery saver mode while driving. Took to dealership said nothing wrong. Drove next day where all lights and wipers going off. Radio cut off and ABS, traction control and E-brake lights came on. Then car began having smoky smell. Completely shut off in intersection with no recharge or ability to start up. Could not even lock doors or open trunk.
I have replaced my car's alternator twice within 16 months due to total failure (car won't turn on) and impending failure (low charging while on). This resulted in my battery needing to be replaced. Additionally, I have replaced all 4 wheel speed sensors twice within the last 24 months because they are failing and the ABS / ESC light comes on. Very disappointing in a car that's only 3 years old. Dealership tells me both repairs are typical of these cars, even the new ones. Lastly, both of my headlights have blown out due to a known recall.
I was driving my vehicle when all of a sudden my radio turns off, then my ABS and tread light come on along with a light that says "brake now." I come to a stop and then everything shuts off. I can not push the brake to start the car back up and a burning electrical smell is coming from the hood. I have to manually lock my doors as the alarm does not work, then my windshield wipers start going off. Based off of research a lot of people are having these issues and saying it is the alternator. That is unacceptable for a 2011.
I was driving towards work in the morning, when all of a sudden, the battery light goes on. A few minutes later, the ABS light goes on and then the traction light goes on. Then, there was the smell of burnt wire and a whining type of sound, so I parked the car and smoke came out from under the hood. Later in the afternoon, I had my husband take a look under the hood and he stated that there seemed to be sparks coming out from the alternator, so we attempted to drive it to the dealership. After 3 miles of driving in traffic on a 40 mph road, the radio shuts off, the lights go off, the air conditioning turns off, the dashboard screen/navigation system turned off, the windshield wipers went out, and the engine stops running. Nothing in the vehicle worked or was running, even the windows didn't work. A burnt electrical wire smell came through the vents. I couldn't even turn on the hazard lights or unlock the trunk. So my husband pushed the car over to a parking lot while I struggled to maneuver the vehicle because the power steering and the power brakes also went out. We tried to jump start the car; however, we stopped because there was more smoke coming from the engine, so we called for a tow truck driver. The next day, we went back to the service department at the Dodge dealership and they told us that it was the alternator; however, we probably need a battery as well. We also will have to pay for towing. This vehicle is only 3 years old and shouldn't be having these types of engine problems. It's a safety hazard when your car totally shuts down in the middle of traffic, leaving you without a way to turn on the hazard lights or provide you with a safe way to steer and brake.
Driving to get on highway and got a message on my car dashboard saying im in battery save mode. So got my speed up to about 70 and my car light and power steering and windshield wiper came on. My power steering locked up on the highway think god I was on the highway simi by myself. But I just brought the car and the Dodge company is charge everyone who has this problem with this particular car 800 dollars to fix even through these are horrible alternators and they know it. Reading online where cars are burning up because of this problem and the Dodge company tells you everything is fine and its not but this car really need to be investigated about their horrible alternators and the consequences when this problem occurs. For some is it not pretty and its unsafe when you see battery save mode because you don't know hole long before your car burn up and not trying to get to that point. This is really make me regret a Dodge product after this thanks.
My son was driving his 2011 Dodge Charger back to campus when the battery saver mode came on and there was an electrical fire smell. He parked it and the next morning when the tow truck came to tow it, he had to manually unlock the doors as the whole system shut down, the dealership confirmed it was an alternator problem and it would be $800 to replace it.
I got the "battery saver mode" warning on my car. I looked it up on the internet and a lot of people were complaining about Dodge Chargers and there alternators. The next morning I called the dealer ship to see what they think it is and if I can get in so they can look at the car, they also said it could be the alternator but could not get me in until the next morning but said it should be safe to drive. They look up my warranty and it was out of warranty for the alternator...I only have 38,600 miles on my car!! I should not be dealing with thing like this on a 3 year old car! luckily I bought a portfolio warranty that covers it but with $100 deductible but the catch is I have to go to the dealer where I bought it from! when there is a dealer 2 miles from where I am and the one I bought it from is about 25 minutes away. So I make the appointment and go to work, by the time I get to work my radio stopped working and ABS light turned on. I parked and smoke was coming from the alternator! I called the dealer back and told them what happen, they said I can bring it in now and leave it there and they will look at it the next day. So I have to leave work to take the car there and the car completely dies on the way there! I had to call a tow truck and get it towed all the way to the dealer. They were able to replace the alternator by the middle of the next day. But I have now had the car for 2 whole days and the battery saver mode just turned on again!!!!! so now in the morning I'm going to have to call the dealer again and see what to do now! replace another alternator!"!?!?!" this has to be a recall!! there should not be any of these problems on a car that is 3 years old and has less then 40,000 miles!!! this is ridiculous and I'm seriously looking at other cars to trade in for now! I am never buying Dodge again!! oh and the dealer wouldn't give me a loaner car for free!
Drove up to a transmountain rest stop to enjoy the view, start smelling an electrical burning smell other cars were there so I didn't think it would be a car I have only had for a year (3 year old car)..hour later I go back to my car to leave and when I press the button to start, all I hear is a click then silence, nothing is on so I try again and once again nothing..got out and popped my hood open and there I saw my alternator all fried up and smoking, no longer covered in warranty so it cost me $700 to replace the alternator and the battery it killed when it fried.
Battery saver mode code message came on. Radio shut off. ABS light flashed. Steering became rigid. Took to shop, alternator and battery needed replaced.
I was driving from my home to work at approximately 40 miles per hour and my car completely shut down. I lost power steering, power brakes, and the engine died. I took the car to the local Dodge dealer and they said that the alternator had gone bad and had also caused the battery to fail. I googled the issue and found hundreds of complaints concerning alternators failing while driving Dodge Chargers.
On 8/30/2014 the 2011 Dodge Charger was traveling at approximately 65-75 mph when the cars radio turned itself off, shortly after the radio turned off the ABS, tcs and brake lights illuminated on the dash. Once these lights came on I 2011 Dodge Charger the vehicle and started to pull off to the side of the road, it was an uphill section and the engine has a loss of power. I put the 2011 Dodge Charger in park and turned the 2011 Dodge Charger turned itself off at which point no electronics not even the hazards would work. This was on the freeway that the vehicle died in the early morning. I opened the hood to check all the fuses and the compartment had a burnt electrical smell to it. All the fuses on the 2011 Dodge Charger were in working order so there was no way to diagnose the issue without the proper tools. The dealership confirmed that the alternator had shorted out and may have caused more damage than is know at this time. They are still currently working on the car. The battery is expected to be damaged also at this time.
While driving on highway at approx. 50 mph, the "batter saver" message appeared on the dash display followed by multiple systems shutting down along with multiple fault lights including brakes, ABS, bat. The engine stopped running and there was minimal control of the vehicle. Steering & braking were almost non existent. After pulling to the side of the highway, there was a strong electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. Upon further investigation, the smell was coming from the alternator. No electrical power was available to lock/unlock doors, turn on hazard lights, or place the car in neutral in order to pull the vehicle on to a tow truck.
While driving the battery saver mode came on, after that the ABS warning light came on. Then power to the radio was cut out and the ac fan speed started jumping sporadically until shutting down as well. Then the speedometer fell to 0 even though I was traveling at a constant rate. Once stopped in a parking lot the car went completely dead and I was unable to restart the vehicle and had to have it towed. There was a burning smell coming from under the hood and also a whining noise could be heard from inside the cabin prior to the failure. The alternator did have to be replaced.
When I started the car there was a small whining coming from the engine and a slight electrical smell coming from the engine. I started driving it to work and the battery saver mode came on. Slowly the radio shut off, the air conditioning switched to blowing out heat and wouldn't shut off, the ABS and brake light came on, the power steering light came on and the power steering went out, and the car stalled. I had it towed to the dealership and they called me this morning and let me know that the alternator would need replaced and that it would cost approximately $855. It will cost more if they determine that the battery needs to be replaced.
At the red light the car shut off, did not have any power, and would not start. After jump starting the car it drove for about 30 minutes more, then all of a sudden the car started malfunctioning. The radio turned off, indicator lights started blinking, steering wheel begin to lock up, and the car began jerking uncontrollably. I then called a tow truck to jumpstart the car and proceeded to go home, the car never stopped jerking and was in power saver mode. I purchased a new battery the next day. Soon after the car begin to do all the same things, jerking, indicator lights, etc. My car has absolutely no power after completely charging the battery. It cannot get towed because I am unable to place the car in neutral due to no power. This has to be a manufacturers problem with the electrical system.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Stockton, CA, USA