2008 Dodge Caliber Electrical Problems

The entire underneath of my car is rusted out. I was driving to work one day when someone pulled out in front of me and I had to hit the brakes. That resulted in the subframe and front drivers axel to break as I’m driving! The sunroof leaks when it rains and half the time the electricity doesn’t work on the sunroof button. My doors have completely stopped auto locking and my hazards will randomly start flashing without pushing the button. Steering is absolutely terrible, it feels like you’re skidding on ice or hydroplaning the entire drive.

NHTSA ID

11494825

Incident

Oct 24, 2022

THE FRONT CALIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS NO STOPPING POWER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND CALIPERS ARE NEW REPLACEMENTS. AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS IT NOW SMELL OF BURNT BRAKE FLUID BUT THERE IS NO LEAK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DOING 45-50 ON A COUNTY RD WHEN A ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT 20 FEET AWAY AND I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN I LOST THE FRONT BRAKES AS PISHED IN ON THE PUSHED IN ON THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SANK AND THEY DIDN'T ENGAGE. I THEN BOUGHT THE NEW CALIPERS AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE SECOND TIME I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHEN THE ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN ME RUNNING A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST GETTING HIT. IT HAS CORRODED AND TOOK HUNKS OFF ALUMINUM FROM MY FRONT DRIVER RIM. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM AND KEEP REPLACING PARTS FOR IT TO TEAR UP NEW ONES

NHTSA ID

11386118

Incident

Oct 15, 2020

Mileage

283,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SPEED LOWERED AND THE TRANS TEMP LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL AND ETB MODULE LIGHT CAME CAR WON'T GO OVER 40 AND REMAINS IN LIMP MODE EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP

NHTSA ID

11326698

Incident

May 25, 2020

Mileage

240,000 mi

LUCKILY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY, ALMOST STOPPING COMPLETELY AND BEGAN TO REBOOT AS IF IT WERE JUST BEING STARTED. I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL IT TO BE SAFE FOR CONSUMERS ON ANY ROAD. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD SON AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE DODGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MY, OR ANYONE ELSE'S FAMILY, GETS WHIPLASH FROM A REAR COLLISION. I'M REACHING OUT TO NHTSA BECAUSE, I LACK THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO FIX IT MYSELF, AND DON'T FIND IT FAIR THAT I PAY FOR A MISTAKE THAT DODGE MADE IN MAKING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324134

Incident

May 10, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

ONE HEADLIGHT DOESN'T,WORK SUB FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED, DOORS LOCK AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS SHOCK AND STRUTS ARE HORRIBLE SQUEAKS AND MAKES REALLY BAD SOUNDING NOISES AT ANY SPEED EVEN BACKING OUT

NHTSA ID

11244034

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

185,000 mi

MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER STALLED OUT WHEN DRIVING & HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CONTROL LIGHTS GO OFF. ( WE TRADED INSTEAD OF FIXING) NOT 1 WEEK LATER MY 2014 DODGE AVENGER HAS THIS SAME ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CONTROL AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY!!!!! THE SHOP THAT IS TRYING TO FIX THIS JUST HAS ANOTHER AVENGER FIXED FOR THE SAME ISSUE ! WHY HAVE THESE NOT BEEN RECALLED? IF SOMEONE GETS HURT STALLING OUT ON A HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THIS, THERE IS GOING TO BE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11222308

Incident

Jun 24, 2019

Mileage

114,917 mi

THE CODE STATING A WIRE IS LOSE WITHIN THE DRIVER AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP GOING ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11174857

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

DASH WARNING LIGHTS ALL COME ON, INTERIOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN USING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, LOSES POWER ONLY UP TO 40MPH , SOMETIMES WON'T START, ODOMETER GAUGE FLAPPING AROUND, WHICH ARE CURRENT PROBLEMS,HAVE REPLACED SUSPENSION THREE TIMES, AND REPLACED COMPUTER! WILL NEVER PURCHASE A DODGE AGAIN!

NHTSA ID

11170335

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RADIO AND DOME LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM GREENSBORO (3710 W WENDOVER AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27407, (336) 790-9850), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11115596

Incident

Aug 3, 2018

I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE I HAVE A HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AND HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE THIS IS VERY SERIOUS FIR MY CAR HAVE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THIS PART NEEDED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE I ALL SOME ONE ELSE GET KILLS OR GET BADLY HURT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART 3 TIMES AND I'M VERY TIRED OF THIS PLEASE FIND OUT WHY THIS PART GOES BAD SO FAST ON THESE CARS I HAVE READY PLENTY OF STORIES ABOUT THIS PART GOING OUT ON THESE DODGE CALIBERS AND STILL NO RECALLS DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURTS AND PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE ITS SERIOUS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO Y'ALL ATTENTION DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TO LATE AND THIS IS MY SECOND DODGE CALIBER AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE AND MY CAR WAS IN MOTION IT HAPPENED ALL 3 TIMES

NHTSA ID

11099296

Incident

May 29, 2018

Mileage

199,990 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME UP ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUES ON FORUMS. IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING.

NHTSA ID

11074250

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

LOSING POWER AND ALL IDIOT LIGHTS FLASHING ON HIGHWAY OR DRIVING AROUND THE CITY VERY DANGEROUS CAN NOT GO OVER 45 ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11005532

Incident

Jul 14, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THE TACH STOPS REGISTERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IT WOULDN'T RESTART. AFTER AWHILE IT RESTARTED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINING LIT. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE SAYS THE FUSE MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10959786

Incident

Mar 6, 2017

CAR STARTED MAKING POPPING AND CREAKING SOUNDS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THERE IS AS FAR AS TIE RODS EVEN TO THE POINT OF MOTOR MOUNTS. LAST NIGHT I GET A CALL AND THE CAR HAD DONE SOMETHING I HAD NEVER HEARD OF. THE HARMONIC BALANCE PULLEY HAD FLOWN OFF AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS CAZILLION OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED ONLINE. THIS CAR LEAKS. IT HAS LEAKED SINCE DAY ONE AND THE DEALERSHIP IN CONROE, TX SAID IF YOU GET A CAR WITH A SUNROOF, ITS GONNA LEAK. THEY ARE FULL OF CRAP. THIS CAR'S HEADLINER LOOKS AS IF IT HAS BEEN TRODDEN ON WITH MUDDY BOOTS. IT LEAKED SO BAD THAT CARPETING WOULD GET WET THEN IT WAS LEAKING DOWN INTO THE DASH WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO DO WEIRD THINGS. I CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I WOULD FEEL GUILTY FOR ENDANGERING SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.

NHTSA ID

10920094

Incident

Oct 29, 2016

Mileage

76,800 mi

MY CAR WAS CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WITH THAT THE STEERING WOULD LOCK WITH NO WAY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC BUT WOULD START BACK UP A MINUTE LATER. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN IT CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. GOT TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED IT WAS THE TIPM.

NHTSA ID

10870109

Incident

May 16, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT ONLY WORKS ON "HIGH BEAM" WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TIPM BOX. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HAS RECEIVED RECOGNITION EVEN IN THE NEWS MORE THAN ONCE. (HTTP://WWW.ABC15.COM/NEWS/LET-JOE-KNOW/LET-JOE-KNOW-HOW-A-BURNED-OUT-HEADLIGHT-COULD-COST-900). THIS ISSUE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF A REAL AS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG SEVERAL DODGE CALIBERS ACROSS MULTIPLE YEARS. IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS WIRING RELATED AND EFFECTS LIGHTING WHICH IS A KEY SAFETY CONCERN TO BOTH MYSELF AND OTHERS WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE TIPM BOX IS NOT AN ITEM THAT SHOULD REQUIRE REPAIR UNDER ORDINARY WARE OF THE EQUIPMENT. OCCASIONALLY THE LIGHT MAY FLICKER BACK ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN MORE UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM RECALLS ALREADY ISSUED BY FORD FOR SIMILAR LIGHTING PROBLEMS WHERE THE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS HAS RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS (HTTP://WWW.REUTERS.COM/ARTICLE/US-AUTOS-FORD-RECALL-IDUSKBN0U51TT20151222). I HAVE ASKED DODGE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUES BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED AS THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES THAT COVER THIS REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR FOR A HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING WITH THIS PROBLEM AVERAGES BETWEEN $800 TO $1000 WHICH IS ALSO QUITE EXTREME AND AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE GENERAL AMERICAN FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. PLEASE TAKE THIS ISSUE WITH DODGE HEADLIGHTS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING INTO CONSIDERATION FOR A REQUIRED RECALL TO HOLD DODGE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN THAT IT POSES TO ALL WHO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND DRIVE ON THE ROADS WHERE THIS VEHICLE IS PRESENT.

NHTSA ID

10863230

Incident

Apr 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10837693

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE IT SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES AND HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT. I HAD THE RUSTED FRAME REPLACED THIS PASSED AUGUST AFTER MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE CORRODED FRAME. I HAVE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS LISTED AND REPLACED ON MY CAR. I STARTED HEARING AN ODD NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A PULLEY. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND I BROUGHT IT BACK IN FOR SERVICING. MY MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HE TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE IT TIL SOMETHING HAPPENED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON ONE NIGHT DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY FROM GROCERY SHOPPING. THE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING, THE CAR STARTED BUCKING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW ALTERNATOR AT A COST OF $650. A WEEK LATER MY HUSBAND DROVE 6 MILES AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. HE CAME BACK HOME AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC. HE ADVISED TO LET THE CAR STALL OUT AND IT WOULD RECORD ON THE LOG. NEXT DAY SAME THING, I LET IT STALL OUT. TOOK CAR IN. HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SAYS IT WILL BE $500 AT THE DODGE DEALER JUST FOR THE ETC PART. THIS IS A KNOWN DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHY IS DODGE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM? WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHY ISN'T ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE DODGE CALIBER? THIS CAR IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK TO ALL DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10824252

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, ALSO REAR WIPER MOTOR AND THE CONTROL FOR THE RADIO ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I BELIEVE THERE TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF THE CRUISE DOES WORK IT MAY MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING OR FIRE HAZARD

NHTSA ID

10821598

Incident

Jan 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10820108

Incident

Jan 13, 2016

Mileage

152,000 mi

I CAN DRIVE THE CAR BUT CAN'T SPEED UP OR ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH. IF I'M AT A STOP LIGHT TOO LONG MY CAR WILL STALL WHILE ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAN'T TURN OVER ENGINE RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10808866

Incident

Dec 6, 2015

Mileage

3 mi

UPDATE OF PREVIOUS REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE CONTROLS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS FRONT AND BACK, WASHER FRONT AND BACK, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER ALL COMPLETELY STOP WORKING. THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INDEPENDENT OF THE CONTROL SWITCH BY STARTING OR STOPPING THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED ON STARTING THE CAR TO GO TO WORK FROM BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE. TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS BY CHANGING THE TIPM. IT HAD NO EFFECT. TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND AND CORRECTED 3 DIFFERENT BREAKS IN 2 CIRCUITS. 2 BREAKS IN THE WIRING IN THE INNER FENDER WELL AND 1 INSIDE THE CAR UNDER THE CARPET NEAR THE DRIVERS DOOR. THANKS TO AL SERRA AUTO PLAZA ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED: CRUISE CONTROL WORKS, KEY FOBS WORK, WIPERS FRONT AND BACK WORK, WASHERS FRONT AND BACK WORK, DIMMER WORKS, HEADLIGHTS WORKS WITH THE SWITCH, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS WORK.AND TURN SIGNALS WORK.

NHTSA ID

10808286

Incident

Nov 28, 2015

Mileage

126,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME, I LOST POWER TO THE TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER, REAR WIPER AND WASHER. I ALSO LOST THE ABILITY TO SET CRUISE CONTROL AND THE MILEAGE DISPLAY WAS BLANK. ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO A RAINY DRIVE THE WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS CAME BACK. THEN THE WIPERS STAYED ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I STOPPED FOR GAS THE THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT LOCK/UNLOCK DOORS. PROBLEMS WENT AWAY AND CAME BACK, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM. I DROVE TO THE CHRYSLER / DODGE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT ANY SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING SPECIFIC ON THE COMPUTER. MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE CAR TROUBLE-SHOT ON 5/23/2015. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAYBE NOT DEPLOYING SHOULD I NEED IT.

NHTSA ID

10715765

Incident

May 11, 2015

Mileage

114,325 mi

WHILE GOING 45 MPH CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULD IDLE AT 1.5 STOPPED IN NEUTRAL. LOST ALMOST ALL POWER. MERELY CAUSED A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712545

Incident

Apr 23, 2015

Mileage

86,500 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ON 6 LANE HIGHWAY ENGINE DECELERATED TO BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. ENGINE BEGUN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH. I WAS APPROACHING A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE MAIN HWY. TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE LIGHT HAD COME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706491

Incident

Apr 17, 2015

Mileage

113,000 mi