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 2009 Dodge Caliber owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Electric fault started a fire under the hood resulting in all components to completely burn. A burning smell started while I was driving, I checked the temperature gauge and the needle was under the cold tick. I continued driving to the nearest parking which took about 1 minute and smoke was already coming out visible from the hood. I don't live in the us, so statae, zip code and phone numbers I entered are dummy. I live in the uae, abu dhabi phone: 0091502124224
The lights come on when the seasons change and the car is warmed up. The alarm goes off usually when it is windy. The airbag light is the most common. It can also go on when parked and car is running. As the years have gone on, it's been less predictable. Occasionally there isn't any power when I plug something into the console, too. I've had the dealer look at it multiple times but they haven't found anything. Sometimes they don't even write it up when I'm having something else repaired. All the dealer has told me is that my airbag is disabled when the light is on. When the alarm goes off, it doesn't want to be shut off. It takes a lot of tries sometimes to get it to stop.the traction control is the newest thing. That's been only for the last year or so.
It was raining and as it was raining my car started to blink all lights and started slowing down no mechanic can seem to figure out what was going on but as I was driving every warning light started going crazy the tachometer went crazy and so did my speedometer eventually my car started to slow down even though it the accelorator was pushed to the floor. And than eventually it just stopped all together when I tried turning the car back on.the started wouldnt engage and the engine would start till I put unhooked the battery and hooked it back in. This has happened on several occasions 12/25/2016 6/15/2017 and again today 11/3/2017 this has happened several times when my father owned the vehicle as well before I purchased it from him.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving highway speeds, the vehicle began to decelerate from 60 to 30 MPH without warning. The contact discovered that if the vehicle was turned off and restarted and the accelerator pedal was pressed, the vehicle would accelerate with no issues for a while before the failure would recur. The dealer diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The certified mechanic diagonoised that the PCM needed to be replaced and the dealer verified the diagnosis. The PCM was not repaired. The manufactuer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Vehicle wouldn't start. Wouldn't turn over. Lights and radio worked. Battery, starter, alt, fuses all okay. Replaced TIPM. Worked for 2 weeks and the problem started all over again. Have had this problem over and over since 2014. We were given a 'key' to try to start the car from outside under the hood when this happened. It worked sometimes, but not always. It's been towed again today for the same reason(9/9/15). We've owned many Dodge vehicles over the years and never had problems like we have with the 2009 Caliber. We had given this car to our daughter to drive for college and it has left her stranded many, many times. I'm concerned for her safety.
The recall u have that u say has not effected mine has. I've already put a new engine in the car and a gas tank, all the lines and now the car is still shutting off/down on its own. The recall is exactly wat the mechanic says needs done and he doesn't have the equipment to do the repair. No advanced read out machinery to change or reprogram. I need this recall on mine. There's no way u got every one that was recalled. Like I said jeff bradley is the mechanic that's fine all the work the new motor the gas tank and lines, and now it's still shutting down. There is no dash lights that cone n at all
I'm not sure what is happening. All of a sudden it won't keep a charge. I have put two batteries and 3 alternators on. All done by mechanics. They said it was something electrical. I have ran out of money due to an illness and can't drive my car. I would like to get it fixed but will have to wait a while. I do live my car and it was fine and just started draining the battery and ruining alternators. My car was just sitting in my driveway and was dead and had to get a jump to go to work. This has been since May of 2018. Thanks for reading this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated the vehicle stalled while driving 45 MPH and made an abnormal nosie. When the failure occurred, the electronic throttle body control warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle exhibited the same failure listed in NHTSA campaign number: 08V528000 (power train). The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the key was difficult to turn over to start the vehicle. Also, the steering wheel was extremely tight and difficult to turn when the vehicle was in motion. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the TIPM failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 166,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the TIPM was replaced, but the failure recurred. While traveling approximately 50 MPH, the ABS light illuminated, the cruise control failed to work and was unable to be reset. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
Electrical complaints in other Caliber years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2009 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the electrical system of the 2009 Dodge Caliber, 10% of the model year's 232 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Dodge Caliber electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2009 Dodge Caliber, though it has 1 recall for other components. 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 2009 Dodge Caliber electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire 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.