Owners report a cascade of electrical failures in the 2014 Charger starting with the alternator. Early symptoms include a "battery saver mode" warning light and sluggish driving performance, often accompanied by a sulfur smell. The alternator then fails to charge the battery properly, or fails outright. Multiple owners describe sudden stalling at highway speeds with total loss of power steering and brakes—creating serious crash hazards. Two owners documented losing control and hitting other vehicles or utility poles. Power to the entire vehicle vanishes without warning, leaving drivers stranded on roadways.
A secondary cluster of complaints involves the instrument panel going black, gauges displaying erratically, and the radio or interior lights cutting out unpredictably. Some owners report these issues appearing after dealer service. Critically, two owners report actual electrical fires—one involving the battery catching fire in the trunk, another destroying a vehicle and damaging the owner's garage.
Battery-charging issues persist even after replacement attempts. Owners took vehicles in multiple times for the same battery saver light, only to be told the issue was "normal" or battery-related when the alternator was the culprit. Cruise control failures and stability control light activation also appear in complaints. Chrysler issued multiple recall campaigns (14V634000, 17V435000, 17V741000, and others), but owners report dealers cannot obtain parts—some waiting months with no timeline for availability.
Failure modes owners describe
Alternator failure with power loss
Alternator fails to charge battery, resulting in sudden complete loss of electrical power while driving. Vehicle stalls without warning, disabling power steering and brakes. Battery drains completely, leaving vehicle immobilized.
When: Typically between 13,000 and 95,000 miles; multiple cases before warranty expiration at ~36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery saver mode light illuminates; Sulfur smell from engine compartment; Sluggish acceleration and driving performance; Sudden stalling while driving at various speeds; Total loss of electrical power with no instrument panel or lights; Engine will not restart; Loss of power steering and brake assist
Codes mentioned: Battery saver mode warning, Check engine light, Alternator warning light, Traction control warning light, ABS warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement required; cost cited around $900 in one case. Battery also frequently needs replacement due to drainage. One owner reported $1,200 total for alternator, battery, and tow.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V634000 (Electrical System), 17V435000 (Electrical System), 17V741000 (Alternator), 16V046000 (Electrical System). Many owners report parts unavailable for recalls despite notification. Some dealers claim vehicle VIN not included in recall despite same failure mode. Some owners advised recall remedy was insufficient.
Dashboard and instrument cluster failure
Instrument cluster becomes unresponsive, displays go blank, or dash experiences electrical glitches including flickering lights and inoperative gauges. In worst cases, entire cluster requires replacement. Dashboard may illuminate with error messages or go completely dark while vehicle is in motion.
When: Varies; some cases after recall service; one case at 23,900 miles after alternator recall work
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel lights flicker off and on; Entire dashboard goes black while driving; Cluster does not display speed or trip information; Error sign appears where mileage is shown; Radio turns off unexpectedly; All dash gauges move erratically; Console lights illuminate without driver input
Codes mentioned: Cluster malfunction codes
Repairs/costs cited: Cluster replacement needed; dealers report needing to order new cluster. Attempted resets sometimes temporarily resolve but failures recur.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer action documented in narratives; dealer service attempted but issues persist.
Electrical system shorts and fires
Battery or electrical system develops internal faults that cause overheating, smoking, or fire. Two cases report actual fires—one with battery catching fire in trunk, another with engine compartment fire that destroyed vehicle and damaged home.
When: At 150,000 miles (battery fire); vehicle parked in garage shortly after return home (engine fire)
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming from engine or battery; Burning smell inside or under vehicle; Battery or alternator visibly blackened; Flames visible from engine compartment or trunk; Explosion-type sound before fire
Repairs/costs cited: One case required fire department response; vehicle was not repaired. Another destroyed vehicle and caused property damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Neither case was reported to manufacturer or dealer. Fire officials cited electrical/mechanical issue in engine.
Battery and charging system failures
Battery repeatedly fails to hold charge despite replacement attempts. Vehicle requires jump starts after sitting. Alternator does not properly charge battery even when tested and found to pass initial diagnostics. Battery saver mode activates intermittently in response to electrical demand.
When: Recurring issue starting early in ownership; some noted after 2 years of ownership with intermittent activation
Symptoms owners cite: Battery saver mode light comes on repeatedly; Vehicle will not start after sitting; Radio and lights dim when air conditioner is engaged; Vehicle cuts off when starting in cold weather; Battery tested as good but vehicle still has charging issues; Key fob not detected despite new battery in fob
Codes mentioned: Battery saver mode, Key fob not detected
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing battery multiple times without resolution. Some dealers claim alternator size is insufficient for engine ('Dodge didn't make the alternator big enough'). Aftermarket alternator replacement by owner in one case cost unknown.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers told owners issue is 'normal' or battery-related despite alternator being root cause. One dealer manager stated manufacturer flaw. No systematic warranty extension offered.
Multiple electrical gremlins after recall service
After alternator recall or electrical service, unrelated electrical symptoms appear including window controls, radio, wipers, and interior lights activating or failing unpredictably. Entire console illuminates without driver input.
When: Post-service complications, typically shortly after recall work completed
Symptoms owners cite: Windows roll up/down without input; Radio and A/C turn on by themselves; Windshield wipers activate without driver input; Entire console lights up unexpectedly; Interior lights flash on and off; Radio shuts off and won't turn back on for minutes
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple component replacements attempted: new radio, new key fob, new battery connector. Issues persist despite repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state there are no recalls despite multiple complaints. Manufacturer not contacted in most cases.
Vehicle stalling with loss of braking and steering
Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds. As a result, power brakes and power steering fail, causing loss of vehicle control. Multiple crashes documented.
When: At various speeds from 15 to 70 mph; one case at 30,000 miles, another at 55,000 miles, another at 17,093 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stalling without warning; Brake pedal goes to floorboard (power assist lost); Steering becomes inoperable or extremely heavy; Vehicle unable to coast to safety; Headlights fail immediately before stall; Instrument panel flickers before failure
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Sulfur odor (electrical burning)
Repairs/costs cited: Two documented crash incidents; one resulted in chest and facial injuries requiring medical attention, vehicle destroyed. Another resulted in rear-end collision with injuries to another vehicle occupant.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V634000 applies to some VINs; others claim vehicle not included in recall despite identical failure mode. One case (17,093 miles) not included in Campaign 16V739000.
Recall parts unavailability
Owners notified of recall campaigns but unable to complete repairs because dealer cannot obtain parts. Manufacturer unable or unwilling to provide timeline for parts availability. Issue persists for months or years.
When: Documented in 2016–2018 timeframe; multiple owners report delays of several months or longer
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but no parts available; Dealer informed parts may never arrive; Owner waits weeks or months for service appointment; Manufacturer cannot confirm delivery date of parts
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; vehicles remain unrepaired despite safety concerns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 14V634000, 16V046000, 17V435000, 17V741000 all cited as having parts unavailable. Manufacturer exceeds reasonable repair timeframes per owners. VIN tool confirms parts distribution disconnect.
Cruise control malfunction and stability control failures
Cruise control fails to engage or disengage properly, causing vehicle to maintain or increase speed unexpectedly. Stability control and traction control lights illuminate with no clear fault. ABS warning lights remain on.
When: Timing varies; one case notes failure while setting cruise control on interstate
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control fails to engage at any speed; Cruise control cannot be disengaged; Vehicle idles high when cruise control malfunction occurs; Abnormal noise from wheels (front and rear); Stability control light illuminates; Traction control light illuminates; ABS warning light illuminates; Cruise control disabled after stability control failure
Codes mentioned: Stability control warning, Traction control warning, ABS warning, Multi-axis acceleration sensor (dynamic sensor) failure code
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved multi-axis acceleration sensor (dynamic sensor) replacement; failure mode previously unheard of by independent mechanics and Firestone. No documented repairs for cruise control issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 18V332000 cited for electrical system and vehicle speed control. Owner received 61 diagnostic trouble codes. No repairs completed in documented case.
Synthesized from 79 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.