Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Caliber submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE TURN SIGNAL BLINKERS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
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.
INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER, ALTERNATOR, AND LIGHT ON INSIDE ON AND OFF OR STAY ON TO LONG. TIME PERIOD 2010-2016
08 DODGE CALIBER SXT PASSENGER FRONT FOG/BLINKER/HAZARD RANDOMLY WORKS. SOME TIMES THE FOG AND BLINKER GOES ON WHEN IN USE AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. SEVERAL ACCIDENTS HAVE ALMOST OCCURRED BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS THAT I AM TURNING RIGHT IF THEY ARE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT FOG/BLINKER/HAZARD IS NOT WORKING THE BACK IS AND BLINKS FAST TO INDICATE A BULB OUT. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED FROM THE TIPM BOX ALL THE WAY TO THE LIGHT. I HAVE GONE OVER 2 MONTHS WITHOUT MY TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AND THERE ARE NO CODES THAT GENERATE. THE TIPM BOX IS WORKING IN PERFECT ORDER AND THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING AS TO WHY THE FRONT PASSENGER FOG/BLINKER IS THE ONLY THING EFFECTED. AND WHY IT IS NOT CONSISTENT. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR OVER 20 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. WHETHER ITS A LIGHT OUT OR FAILING TO USE A TURN SIGNAL. THERE'S IS DEF. NO WAY MY CAR WILL PASS AN UPCOMING INSPECTION UNLESS IT DECIDES TO WORK THE DAY I GO. AND SINCE ITS SO RANDOM AND CAN WORK FOR A FEW DAYS IN ROW AND THEN NOT WORK FOR LIKE MONTH ITS DEF. A SHOT IN THE DARK. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS AND THERE DEF. SHOULD BE SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK. HAVING A FUNCTIONAL TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD IS A MAJOR SAFETY POINT TO ME ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. I'M NOT SURE THE EXACT DATE BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015.
THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER FOG/BLINKER GOES IS NOT ALWAYS FUNCTIONAL. WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT FOG/BLINKER IS NOT WORKING THE BACK BLINKS FAST TO INDICATE A BULB OUT. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED FROM THE TIPM BOX ALL THE WAY TO THE LIGHT. I HAVE GONE OVER 2 MONTHS WITHOUT MY CAR TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AND THERE ARE NO CODES THAT GENERATE. THE TIPM BOX IS WORKING IN PERFECT ORDER AND THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING AS TO WHY THE FRONT PASSENGER FOG/BLINKER IS THE ONLY THING AFFECTED AND WHY IT IS NOT CONSISTENT. IT ALSO EFFECTS FROM MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER HAZARD LIGHT IT WILL WORK IF THE FOB/BLINKER IS WORKING THAT DAY. AND THE HAZARD WILL NOT WORK IF THE OTHER ONES ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL THAT DAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW SINCE LAST FEBRUARY OF 2015 BUY I CANNOT RECALL THE EXACT DATE ALSO THE MILEAGE WAS APPROX. 120,000.
MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I REPLACED WITH TWO BRAND NEW BULBS BUT LIGHT IS STILL OUT. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, ONE BRAKE LIGHT, AND ONE LICENSE PLATE ILLUMINATION LIGHT ARE ALL NON FUNCTIONAL AS WELL. RECALL HAS BEEN MADE ONE YEAR OF MODELS OF CHRYSLER VEHICLES BUT NOT MINE, AND IT IS THE SAME FAULTY PART THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS OF CHRYSLER VEHICLES. UPON VISITING A CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER I WAS ADVISED OF A $900 QUOTE TO FIX THE PART. I SEE NO REASONING FOR ME TO HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A FAULTY PART THAT CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS. *JS
THE LIGHTS AND ALL DASH GAUGES TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTING ALL LIGHTS GO AWAY. THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN I AM BRAKING. NO PATTERN FOR WHEN OR WHAT SPEED. ABS SEEMS TO KICK IN FOR NO REASON DURING THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. POWER HAS BEEN LOST AND CAR HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING. I AM TOLD THIS IS THE TPIM MODULE FAULT THAT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT FOR $1,500.00! THERE IS LARGE AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TPIM AND DODGE HAS WRONGLY NOT PROVIDED A RECALL FOR THE CALIBER. *TR
REFERENCE CHRYSLER TSB 23-035-07 FOR SOME (POSSIBLY) VALUABLE, RELATED INFORMATION. TAIL LIGHT LENS CONDENSING AND CONTAINING WATER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER ABOUT THIS MATTER TWICE. THE SECOND TIME I REPORTED IT, I HAD GONE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND, BY CHANCE, WAS GIVEN A 2011 DODGE CALIBER AS A RENTAL. BOTH TAIL LIGHTS HAD CONDENSATION AND AT LEAST 1/2" OF WATER IN THEM. I POINTED THIS OUT THE GENERAL MANAGER, TELLING HIM I THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECT, WITHOUT LETTING HIM EVEN KNOW THAT IT WAS 'HIS' CAR. HE ONLY NODDED IN AGREEMENT. I TOLD HIM THAT THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT EXCEPT FOR ME TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT LENS ASSEMBLY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO TSB'S RELATED TO THIS. WHEN I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE TSB I FOUND, THEY SAID THE REFERENCE TO "EXTERIOR LAMP" IS TO THE 'HEADLAMPS' AND NO OTHERS. THOUGH MY DEALER IS WILLING TO HELP ME WITH THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT LENS ASSEMBLY, AND SINCE I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR TO THEM TO CARRY THE BURDEN. FINALLY, IF ONE WERE TO PERFORM A GOOGLE SEARCH RELATING TO THIS ISSUE THEY WOULD FIND THAT THERE IS CLEARLY AN ONGOING AND PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH NOT ONLY THE DODGE CALIBER LINE OF MOST YEARS SINCE PRODUCTION STARTED, BUT MANY OTHER MODELS AS WELL. IN PARTICULAR, THE CALIBER FORUM SITES HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THE LENGTHS THE OWNERS HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO RESOLVE THE MATTER ON THEIR OWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE TURN SIGNALS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON AND OFF AT THEIR LEISURE . SOMETIMES, THE TURN SIGNALS ON THE FRONT WORK AND SOMETIMES NOT. THIS IS BECOMING A REGULAR INCIDENT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES FREQUENTLY. I ALSO HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT SEVERAL TIMES FOR DEFECTIVE BULBS, LUCKILY ONLY WARNINGS SO FAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAILLIGHT BECAME FILLED WITH WATER, CAUSING THE TAILLIGHT TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO REMOVED THE LIGHT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *TR
WHILE DRIVING A 2008 DODGE CALIBER SE IN A STREET BETWEEN 40MPH AND 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTDOWN ITSELF. FIVE SECOND LATER AND AFTER PULLING OVER AS CLOSE AS I COULD TO THE CURVE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR DIED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE TRAFFIC, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT UNDER THE HOOD, AND AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION, I SAW SPARKS AND SMOKE COMING OUT OFF THE FUSES' BOX. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR UP. USING A FLASH LIGHT, I FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE CIRCUIT CARD IN THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) SHORTED AND MELTED PART OF THE PLASTIC COVER. THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE PUT IN NEUTRAL, AND THE BREAK PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL WERE INOPERATIVE. IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A HIGH WAY, I AM SURE THAT THE INCOMING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE HIT MY CAR WITH SPEED OVER 65MPH DUE TO SUDDENLY DECELERATION AND LACK OF VEHICLE'S RESPONSE TO THE DRIVER'S COMMANDS. MY WIFE, THREE YEARS OLD DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH. *TR
SITTING ON I-10 STOPPED WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER REAR ENDED ME. HIS SPEED WAS 40 MILES PER AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME FROM GETTING MY FACE CUT AND PREVENTED MY INJURY. I WISH THE BAGS WOULD HAVE WORKED. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE DODGE DEALER A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THE DRIVER FRONT BAG BURNING ME WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THEN THE BLUNT FORCE TO MY FACE. *TR
WE PARKED OUR 2008 DODGE CALIPER FOR THREE DAYS AND WHEN WE DROVE NEXT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE HEAD LIGHTS AT ALL, THE AUXILIARY DRIVING LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, THE WIND SHIED WIPERS WILL NOT WORK (FRONT OR BACK) THE WIND SHIELD WASHER WILL NOT WORK. THE HEAD LIGHTS DO COME ON AUTOMATIC WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE AND THEN THEY STAY ON UNTIL YOU TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND FLASH BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVER'S COLUMN THAT WILL WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF LIGHTING CAPABILITY, THE WIND SHIELD WASHERS NOT WORKING. I HAVE GOGGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON THE DODGE AVENGER AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ENTRIES OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING ON THE DODGE CALIPER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND SINCE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED A REMEDY WAS NOT PROVIDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,591 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,501.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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