Problems with 2011 Dodge Charger ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While i was driving on a main street my car stalled and i smelled smoke, my doors automatically locked and i had smelled smoke, i freaked out and took my keyless remote battery out and put back in any my doors unlocked, so i got myself and kids out asap, i had to call a tow truck and they towed my car to the dealership, there they diagnosed that it was the alternator, i had to buy one which was $500 or a little more. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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

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.) *tr

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 570.00 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... *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

* check engine light comes on, loss of power as if in neutral (at), moved shifter from d to n and back to d. shifted gears strangely, high rpm without shifting to next gear. check engine light would reset after turning off engine. this happened several times. * 10-13-14 abs, traction control lights blink, audio turns off, smelled burning in passenger compartment, engine making strange noise. pulled over, opened hood, smoke from engine compartment. would not start. towed to dealer. dealer calls to say alternator is the issue. $930.00 to repair! *tr

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. *tr

I was driving along fine going 35 miles per hour. suddenly my vehicle begin to stall and start smelling something burning without any type of warning my car just went completely dead. call toll truck he try to boost it off and he stated it had a dead charge. had to assist tow truck driver to push car to be towed to nearest dealership. they had to change my alternator and battery and it took them until sept 23, 2014 to return my vehicle. i am afraid of driving my vehicle to far because i do not know whether this with happen again without any warning or whether the problem is fix. it also turn out my vehicle was not on the recall due to different size alternator. i will be cautious where i will travel. the cost of replacing my alternator and battery was 1181.48. and also when i got my vehicle back from dodge service department my review mirror on windshield was broken and damage had to file insurance claim to get that replace. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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... *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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 $800.00 to replace it. *tr

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. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge charger. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, there was a burning smell coming from the front of the vehicle. in addition, the vehicle abs warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle failed to restart. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 45,000.

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! *tr

Battery saver mode code message came on. radio shut off. abs light flashed. steering became rigid. took to shop, alternator and battery needed replaced. *tr

I was on my way home from the dealer from getting the free detail they promised me 3 days after my purchase when all of a sudden the battery saver mode comes on i make it home to grab another shirt for work i get back into the car and the radio cuts off and the air too started to blow hot and the windshield wipers went up and the traction control light comes on followed by abs light then power steering light comes on the wheel wouldn't work and the brakes went out but i didn't crash i was able to get stopped. the dealer gives me the run around so we talked to the vice president he sent a loner and picked the car up but i haven't heard anything in a week. i need this matter to be solved and i don't think i should have to pay out of pocket i believe it to be a recall. thanks

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

The alternator suddenly failed. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

Just as everyone else has written, my 2011 dodge charger at only 51,000 miles alternator went out. i was driving down the road when all of the gauges started flashing, my radio cut off, and then my whole car died and wouldn't come back on. luckily, i pulled over in enough time because the steering wheel was impossible to turn and i couldn't even push my break in. i would hate to have been going faster and the whole car shut down and be stuck in a metal death trap. i had to have my car towed from another town. the next day we put a new battery in the car because of course it was fried. after resetting the cars computer because the throttle sensor was off, i was able to drive the car again for a total of 10 minutes before it started disintegrating by serpentine belt and unraveling into the car. replaced that, started it again for it only to say that my car was in battery saver mode again with a brand new battery. took it to o'reillys for them to test the alternator while my car was still able to run, because with this particular car the alternator has to be tested on the car, and well it was not running the previous day. needless to say the alternator froze up there diagnostic computer. long story short my dodge charger is sitting until i can save up enough money to buy the $700 alternator! i will never buy a dodge again! you would think that if this many people were having the same exact problem they would do something about it. *tr

While driving through kentucky and into illinois, i noticed that the radio suddenly turned off and then about 10 miles later the vehicle lost all power and function. i managed to pull onto the side of the highway to call a tow truck. the car was sent to the nearest dodge dealer/service center. after they looked over the car they said it was the battery shorted out and they were going to replace the battery. after the battery was in they noticed that the battery was being overcharged by the alternator and that will also need to be replaced. i'm currently waiting on the car to be finished and will see if that is all it is. *tr

I was driving my 2011 dodge charger with my children when it just completely stalled while driving approx. 50 mph. there was a odd high pitched noise and all my lights came on as well as the battery saver mode and a horrid smell came into the car. when i got the car home i opened the hood and it was smoking from the alternator. this is going to cost about $700 and it is such a young car that is well maintained so it is very frustrating and a little suspect. this was extremely scary and a major accident waiting to happen. i am just glad i was able to get to the side of the road when the engine shut down. *tr

The car radio stopped and powered itself off. the abs and traction control light flashed on the dashboard. i stopped at an intersection and powered the car off to hopefully reset the system. the car would not start. i had to have it towed. no power to the battery and therefore the hazard lights would not work either. the mechanic identified the issue as the alternator. i see an open investigation into my model car. please include my vehicle in as one of the failures. *tr

Without warning while driving at highway speeds i began to smell a plastic melting smell. almost immediately the radio shut off and i got a "battery saver mode" message. within seconds the car's engine quit. when the engine stopped so did all power to the controls including steering and brakes. when got the car to the side of the road i could see visible blue smoke coming from the front of the passenger's side engine compartment. popped the hood and identified that the smoke was coming from the alternator. car would not start again. had towed to shop and alternator is shot. apparently there is a 2 to 3 week back order due to high demand related to failed alternators. i could have been killed or killed others easily when i lost power at highway speed. *tr

When i started my car it made a loud whining noise for a second but then it went away, i started driving to work while i was driving on the highway doing 55 mph my car radio shut off and my lights shut off the abs light and the anti swerve light started flashing on and off and i got a message on my screen it was in battery saving mode. i was able to drive to work and then drive straight to the dealer ship after for analysis and found out on monday that the alternator went out while i was driving.. *tr

Alternator problem. drove car around corner leaving my house and starting running bad. dash lit up with "running on backup battery". drove back into driveway. car wont start. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge charger. the contact heard a high pitched noise underneath the hood of the vehicle. while driving 30 mph, the battery saver mode, traction control, and abs sensors illuminated. the dealer stated that the alternator needed to be replaced. the authorized dealer did not state why the three sensors illuminated or why the codes were displayed in the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 112,801.

Morning of the incident, heard a "whining" noise when car started. drive short distance to work and home. while driving on highway in traffic going 25mph at 6pm, lost power to radio, power steering, abs light flashed, brake light flashed, and strong electrical smell. when i finally got the car to the shoulder, itwas in battery saver mode and could not detect key for keyless entry. no electrical power. when i called dodge dealer where it was towed, they said it would be $700 for parts and labor. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge charger. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the abs and the esc warning lights illuminated. in addition, a chime sounded and the power steering failed. the vehicle was shifted into park and the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that there was smoke and an odor of burning wires coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

Driving at night, all of sudden, smelt a burning smell coming through the a/c. next morning, when i started my car, the battery saver light came on. drove to work and parked. when i came back on lunch break, the power saver light, abs light, seat belt light, and traction light came on dash board, and car shut down. had to get towed to dodge dealership. bad alternator. cost to replace $804.00. dodge consumer assistance stated that dodge would not cover the cost of the alternator of my 2011 dodge charger. this is apparently a manufacturer default. never buying another dodge again. this is my 6th time having this car in the shop, after owning it for 2.7 years. when the head light went out, dodge stated they wouldn't replace it, so had to pay over $500.00 out of pocket for replacement. then got a recall, and dodge only reimbursed half of my out of pocket. *tr

Audio went off,then ac went off,then car cut off ,wouldn't restart/buy new battery,car start to smoke from alternator. *tr

My car started making a squeaky noise from the engine one morning, then as i drove it the radio went off and my battery said it was going into battery saving mode. my ac started to turn on and off, so i lowered my windows then my windows wouldn't go back up. i had numerous engine lights come. my windshield wipers where turning on and off. my power steering stopped working, so i pulled over. i turned my car off and it wouldn't turn on. i checked my battery the next morning to see if i needed a new one but it was fine. i jumped my car and drove it around a little and still had all the problems stated above with my headlights flashing on and off this time. i turned the car off and the lights inside where still flashing, so i unplugged the battery. my car is now at the dodge dealer and they are telling me it might be alternator. i don't understand how this happens to a 2011 vehicle. *tr

When i turn on my turn signals the windshield wipers go on! this happens 2 to 3 times i put the turn signal on then does not do it next time and then again the next 3 times i use the turn signals. mostly happening with left turn signal. the wipers do not stop until you turn off the turn signal. something must be wrong with the electrical wiring or switch. *tr

The alternator had a complete failure. waited 2&1/2 hrs for wrecker to tow to dealership only to be told the dealership had a locked gate and the tow company could not drop car there. had towed to the house instead and the next day began the process for repairs. 36 month warranty expired in may 2014 and this occurred july 31, 2014. car only has 26,138 miles of usage. alternator is not available at any parts house, only at dodge dealership (if it can be found there, i had to drive 230 miles roundtrip to get one). replace it myself because dodge customer assistance center told me they would help me with 'part' of the labor fee if i paid an additional tow fee to get the car to their dealership. i believe the amperage rating for this alternator is too low to support the electronics in the 2011 dodge charger. total estimated expenses to fix this problem is $927.85. *tr

I was driving home with my 2 kids on the freeway. battery saver mode message came on. the lights on the dash started flickering. the abs light and electronic stability lights went on and off. as i was exciting freeway the rpms started jumping up and down. ac started blowing hot. radio shut off and the gas pedal barely worked. after that i lost power steering and had to muscle the car around a car in front of me and into a parking lot. the alternator died on me. i have read many other people having the same thing happen to them. *tr