Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Dodge Caliber owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Caliber AWD. The contact stated that the wiring in the heated seat failed causing the seats to overheat leaving a hole approximately 7 inches behind the seat. The contact stated the rear of the seat was warm and an abnormal odor was detected. In addition, the wiring in the steering column failed causing the wiper blades to fail and the windshield wiper fluid to activate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the main wiring in the steering column failed and the heated pad, wiring, zone, cover, and seat would need to be replaced. The steering column was repaired; however, the overheated seat failure had not been remedied. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
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. …
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. …
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 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 …
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. …
I was driving my 2008 Dodge Caliber in February 2015 traveling roughly 45 MPH when suddenly the battery light and all dash lights began to come on and flash. I was able (just barely) to avoid a head on collision with another vehicle and parked the car; in the previous 30 days I had several repairs made that included the alternator and batter, et cetera. Vehicle was towed to the repairing shop where a new alternator and battery were installed, then tonight 20150411 the batter light has again come on with fluctuating speeds. I have researched and read about multiple problems with the Dodge Caliber regarding the tipms system or such; the fact that the Chrysler corporation has been able to consistently fail to make the required repairs to these vehicles is atrocious. The lives of other vehicle operators are being put at risk; I'm certain that something more should be done.
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Caliber years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Dodge Caliber, 17% of the model year's 377 complaints. The component named most often is horn (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Dodge Caliber electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2008 Dodge Caliber. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Caliber electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.