2012 Dodge Charger: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 15, 2019 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · TN

Sealed transmission makes it very difficult to adjust fluid levels that can keep transmission from freezing and locking up. Currently my vehicle has a horrible burning smell coming from the transmission and shifting is becoming irradic with can cause traffic issues. It occurs mostly in town driving after stopping for extended periods of time (street lights). Recently the check engine light came on with the p0208 code.

Filed Dec 26, 2018 · Electrical · 124,500 miles · TN · fire

While driving my vehicle home from work on 18 november 2018 my vehicles radio became intermittent on all settings. Bluetooth, auxillary, sattelite and regular radio had an interruption in the audio at regular intervals. I smelled an electrical burning smell and pulled over. I popped the trunk and there was smoke coming from the fusebox next to the rear tire. The radio amplifier fuse had melted itself into the fusebox and was continuing to short. Charger has an open recall for alternator schedualed for service 26 december 2018

Filed Jan 24, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 117,000 miles · CA · fire

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?

Filed Nov 30, 2017 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · LA · fire

As I was driving down the road today, the red battery light came on and I could hear a whining noise. I drove to repair shop about 3 miles away to get the battery checked. I and the personel noticed black smoke coming from the hood of my car. It was on fire.I was notified that there was an alternator factory defect recall. This was 6 months ago when I contacted my dealer ship musson patout in new iberia, la. I call every two weeks to see if you have sent the part to fix my car and there are no parts. I had to replace the battery today because the burnt alternator damaged cells in the battery. Th wrecker picked up my car and brought it to be repaired. At this time, I do not know how much damage was done to my car because of a manufacturer's defective part.the recall # is p60. My nerves are very bad now when I think how I or someone may have been hurt or died by this incident.

Filed Sep 27, 2017 · Electrical · 90,211 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge charger. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v435000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. While attempting to start the vehicle, all of the warning indicators flickered on and off and the windshield wipers malfunctioned. The contact noticed smoke coming from the hood and noticed that the origin was the alternator. There was no fire. The vehicle was taken to bob howard chrysler jeep dodge ram (13250 broadway ext, oklahoma city, ok 73114 (405) 749-1111) where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there would be a fee for the repairs for which the contact may or may not be reimbursed. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 90,211.

Filed Sep 18, 2017 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 92,000 miles · NY · fire

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

Filed Aug 23, 2017 · Electrical · 82,000 miles · AZ

Recall t36 needs to be expanded to include the 3.6l engine with the 160a alternator, as my 2012 dodge charger with these components just had the exact failure described in this recall, but fca is saying that the recall doesn't include my vehicle. As of now, the 5.7l engine with the 160a alternator and the 3.6l engine with the 180a alternator are included, but not the 3.6l engine with the 160a alternator. The battery failure warning light came on in the morning on my way to work. I used the remote start when I was going to leave work and the car died after about two minutes, before I could even get in the car. White smoke came from under the hood and, upon closer inspection, was emanating from near the alternator on the passenger side of the car. There was also more heat than two minutes of idling would account for as well as the smell of hot plastic or something similar. There was no power to any part of the vehicle at all. I took the battery to autozone and they said it tested as a good battery. I had it towed to henry brown dodge in casa grande, arizona and they confirmed it was the alternator that failed.

Filed Jul 26, 2017 · Electrical · 86,000 miles · VA

I drove my car to work on monday and back home (approx 25 miles round trip) with just a message stating battery in saver mode, otherwise a normal drive home. About 3 hours later I was going to the store, I turned my car on and it immediately started making a loud humming noise. I started to leave the driveway, got about 50 feet down the street when I noticed smoke was coming out from under the hood (it had a strong electrical burning smell). The ABS warning light and traction control warning light came on, the message with battery in saver mode appeared on the screen again, and the interior lights flickered. I got the car back in the driveway and left it there over night. The next day I started the car with the message, battery in saver mode being the only issue. I got to work, then called the dealership to have the car dropped off for them to diagnose. The dealership has diagnosed the problem as being an alternator failure. I researched recalls with similar malfunctions and p60 kept coming up. Apparently my charger is not included in this recall even though the same issues occurred.

Filed Jul 26, 2017 · Engine, Steering · 75,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact's wife owns a 2012 dodge charger. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle stalled and lost power without warning. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being towed to his residence, he noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact notified scott robinson chrysler dodge jeep ram located at 20900 hawthorne blvd, torrence, ca 90503 at phone number: (424) 299-8800 where the dealer informed the contact to call the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but the contact was informed to take the vehicle to a dealer but did not offer any further assistance. The approximately failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Jul 13, 2017 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · NC

This is related to p60 recall. Our car has the same alternator as the 3.6 cars in the recall. It had the very same problems: wife driving down the highway , the battery light came on there was a few chime sounds, then ABS and tc lights came on, then all the dash warning lights came on. The wife knows enough about cars that she had to immediately pull over and shut the car off. Then smoke came out from under the hood and a smell of electrical burning was evident. She had been on a highway doing 55 MPH. The wife called me and I went down there. The forst thing that I noticed was there was not anything electric working on the car. And worst of all it was stuck in park and couldn't put it in neutral for towing. The tow truck guy tried to jump it but soon realized that everything was shorted out. He finally towed it to the dealership. I was able to see the burn marks and where the metal of the alternator had melted. Upon doing research online I found about this same problem with other challengers. And also found the p60 safety recall. The recall listed the same exact symptoms that we had but didn't cover 5.7 engine cars. The alternator was burnt(pictures attached) exactly the same as the 3.6 engine cars. There were a lot of posts of the 5.7 having same issue that my car had. Most of those were covered under the warranty. Our car was out of warranty. It cost us $988.50 for a new alternator,battery and labor. Since this same part was covered under p60 recall it looks like chrysler is being deceptive about the issue. Please investigate and reply. Pic of alternator below. Regards, gregory

Filed Jul 8, 2017 · Electrical · 49,112 miles · IN · fire

My complaint is for the alternator on my 2012 dodge charger with 160amp alternator. This weekend after only 49,000 miles the alternator failed. The car died on the freeway and the alternator had caught fire. Luckily we carry a fire extinguisher in the car or I'm afraid the engine would of caught on fire. Please warn other charger drivers if they smell electrical burning get to a fire station.

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Electrical · 87,000 miles · FL

Low battery mode light came on while turning into my driveway, the car then abruptly stalled and smoke began poured out from under hood and I noticed a strong electrical burning smell. I opened the hood and smoke was coming from the alternator. A mechanic I know that lives close to me checked the charging system and found the battery and alternator were both bad and had to be replaced. I purchased a new alternator ($428.54.) and battery ($145.80) and with the help of my mechanic freind, replaced both items. I contacted chrysler and they advised that my car is not included in the p60 recall because my alternator is 180 amps. They started a case file and are supposed to contact me to come and look at the car. This issue is exactly the same as the p60 recall except this alternator is a different size. The manufacturer is the same and chrysler is not standing by their customers for installing faulty equipment on these cars.