Was driving home from work when I started to hear a squeal/whining noise under the hood. Got home, opened the hood and tried to inspect where the sound was coming from. After opening the hood, a burning odor became apparent and I became super worried the issue was more serious than first thought. After listening to the car for a while (while at idle) I noticed the sound was coming from the front passenger side, the alternator.

Called the dealer to setup an appointment ASAP. The soonest I was able to get in was a couple days later. Luckily I have another vehicle which I was able to drive in the mean time. On my way to the dealership, the car started acting really funny. The A/C and radio stopped working, the ABS light came on, the burning odor I smelled after opening the hood was now coming into the car while I was driving. I was afraid the car was going to burst into flames at any moment... Luckily I was able to get it to the dealership while on it's last leg. Thank god the dealership was less than 10 miles from the house.

After the mechanic evaluated the car, he told me bad alternator. The bearings went bad (at not even 45,000 miles and just over 3 years old). He stated it would cost $750 to repair.... $750 for a bad alternator, like what the hell! I asked if there were ANY other option, he said there is an after market alternator but that is even more expensive. So either pay $750 to have the alternator replaced, or have a faulty car that could burst into flames. Obviously I chose to get it fixed. But after checking online I saw that the Dodge Charger is under investigation for faulty alternators (certainly sounds familiar!!). I would be willing to bet the Challenger has the SAME problem.

Hopefully enough people find this site, so they can also look into the faulty Challenger alternators. Hopefully save some other guy the agony of having to replace the alternator for $750!!!

This is the second alternator in three months I have put on this car. I am getting the original rebuilt after putting a new alternator on and returning the new one that is now burned up. The car is stuck in overcharge mode and the aluminum diode plate that is in the factory alternator can not handle the amps and heat that are generated. I am hoping this rebuilt alternator with a copper diode pack and better clutch pulley will last.

Dodge really should issue a recall on the factory alternator. The 600.00 dollars they want to replace it at the dealer is ridiculous. My Challenger is a great car when it is running but as of late I am beginning to doubt it and not trust it to drive long distances. My wife and I love to take road trips but with an unreliable car that is impossible to do.