Dodge Electrical System: Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Dodge is recalling about 425,000 vehicles over a problem with the electrical system.

Campaign
80V136000
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Reported
15 October 1980
Vehicles
425,000
Built between
Nov 1977 – Aug 1979
Models
2
Recall type
Vehicle
Initiated by
NHTSA investigation
Owners notified
18 December 1980
Repaired
Not reported
Unrepaired
Not reported

Does this affect my vehicle?

This recall covers vehicles built between November 1977 and August 1979. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.

  • 1978-1979 Dodge OmniBuilt November 1977 to August 1979
  • 1978-1979 Plymouth HorizonBuilt November 1977 to August 1979

What the defect is

The alternator field wiring terminal connections on the involved vehicles may loosen due to vibration, possibly resulting in an open circuit condition. Should this occur, alternator electrical output to support the vehicles electrical loads and the battery charging system would be lost. This would eventually result in obvious malfunctions of various electrical systems (dimming of lights, reduction in radio volume, etc.).

What gets fixed

DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ALTERNATOR REPAIR KIT WHICH INCLUDES A NEW ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS NEW TERMINALS. DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A REQUIRED SECOND ALTERNATOR GROUND STRAP AND ADD ONE IF NECESSARY.

Timeline

  1. Vehicles builtNovember 1977 to August 1979
  2. Recall reported to NHTSA15 October 1980
  3. Owners notified18 December 1980

Your rights

A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.

That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 15 October 1980.

To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.

Official source

Recalling manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Recall initiated by
ODI

Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Additional notes

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: electrical; alternator, generator.consequences of defect: with continued operation, the vehicle would becomedisabled and subject to an accident on the road.

Check your own vehicle

This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.

A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.

Same component

Same brand