2009 Chrysler 3 Series electrical system problems

“The OEM starter ignited a fire under the front end of my vehicle. Upon noticed, I immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher, and I put the fire out. I had my two young boys in the car at the time when it happened and I urged them to get out of the car immediately my young son has a fear from now on on getting in vehicles. There wasn’t any issuing warning lights that prompted any awareness. Initially started the car to run and get the juices flowing - seeing The car was parked. There wasn’t any movement to Initiate spark.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED TO THE RESIDENCE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT COVER AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE COAT I WAS WEARING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I FELT 'PINCHING' ON MY LOWER BACK AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I WAS INSTRUCTED BY BY MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER TO CALL CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND GET CASE NUMBER. DID SO.. CASE NUMBER 75085832. NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK AFTER 4 FOLLOW UP CALLS. DEALER WILL NOT FIX UNTIL CHRYSLER LOOKS AT IT.”

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, OUR 09' CHRYSLER 300 COMPLETELY SHUTOFF UNEXPECTEDLY. ENGINE SHUTOFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES...AND WORST OF ALL, ALL LIGHTS SHUTOFF! I DRIFT OFF INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE (LUCKILY MINIMAL TRAFFIC) AND STOP. PUT IN IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE...NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO ISSUES, AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. CONTINUE ON WITH LIFE... NOW A WHILE LATER, I'M DRIVING AROUND A TIGHT ROUNDABOUT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN! LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN A TURN AT LOW SPEED, AND THE WHEEL GETS RIPPED OUT OF MY HAND AS THE CAR DRIVES UP OVER THE CURBS BEFORE I CAN STOP WITH THE NOW NON-POWERED BRAKES ON THE CAR. MINIMAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BUT ENOUGH TO PISS ME OFF TO KNOW THAT THIS CAN LITERALLY HAPPEN AT ANY TIME... CHANGING BETWEEN HAVING POWER STEERING TO INSTANTLY NONE IS A MAJOR HAZARD IN A TURN. I CAN DEAL WITH AN ENGINE TURNOFF, BUT THIS IS A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN, AS IF THE CAR WAS SHUTOFF NOT RECOGNIZING A THE KEY IS THERE. LIGHTS, RADIO, DASHBOARD, ETC....ALL TURN OFF (I'M GUESSING AIRBAGS TOO?) I HAVE NOW RESEARCHED THIS AND I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS PRETTY MUCH NARROWED DOWN TO…”

“THIS CAR HAS A PLASTIC KEY FOB USED AS THE KEY. SOMETIMES I TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY REPEATEDLY IN THE FOB ITSELF. I WISH IT HAD A METAL KEY SO I COULD FIGURE OUT IF IT IS SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION OR IN THE FOB ITSELF. I'M AFRAID I AM GOING TO LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING AND CRASH. THE DEALER SAID A NEW IGNITION IS OVER $1000 BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED THIS WILL SOLVE MY ISSUE. I AM ALSO AFRAID AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD MAKE MY AIRBAGS NOT WORK OR A FIRE INSIDE. I KNOW CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED 2 MILLION CARS FOR IGNITION ISSUES BUT MINE HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED THUS FAR AND I'M NOT SURE WHY. I DO NOT THINK THE PROBLEM WILL MAGICALLY CORRECT ITSELF, BUT IT IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO RHYME OR REASON JUST DEPENDS”

“WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE, INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES ALL SHUT DOWN. THE CAR EFFECTIVELY WAS MOVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH NO POWER. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE ROAD SIDE THRU TRAFFIC AND THE CAR HAD TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON YEARS PRIOR TO AND AFTER THIS YEAR FOR IGNITION KEY ISSUES. I ONLY USE THE KEY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO KEY RING ATTACHED. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IN THE YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED IT, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEEDS BUT LESS FREQUENTLY. I AM NOW WORKING EVENING HOURS AND THE LIGHTS SHUTTING DOWN HAS BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE.”