Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I recently only had my 2012 dodge caliber for a year now and out of that year it's been giving me problems since I had it! The car had completely shut down on me for weeks while I was in the process of burying my father in law who gave me Covid after he passed. Weeks later we ended up figuring out what the issue was which was the tipm. I remember having to tap the battery with a wire for it to start and it didn't matter what the weather looked like. Well that didn't last long because it broke down on me again after I've replaced almost everything there was under the hood; the battery, the alternator, the fuses to the tipm and relay, the brake light switch, the ignition switch and all the fuses. Now here it is I'm making a car payment and still paying insurance for a vehicle I haven't driven in months. …
The left tail light fixture has accumulated approximately 7.25 inches of water/moisture in side of it. The right tail light fixture has accumulated approximately 2.75 inches of water/moisture in side of it. The left running, brake and turning signal lights are still functioning properly, but the reverse light (the only one completely covered with water/moisture) does not. The right running, brake, reverse and turning signal lights are still functioning properly (none are covered by water.
New parts , problems still exist. New battery being drained and/shorting out. Negative terminal is getting hot. Has burned up 2 new altinators! Battery light comes on shortly after new battery installed. New alternators and batteries are being ruined. Prior to all this car would stall in traffic. This car is unsafe! Also can smell something burning under the hood Even when ignition is off. I have disconnected the battery in fear of this car catching fire. Faulty ticm? I'm at wits end! Money pit! Should have a recall. All ground connections are good and both battery terminals have been replaced. Nothing I have done has solved the problem.
On multiple occasions vehicle completely shuts down and locks up when slowing down and turning. Almost rear-ended and then t-boned in middle of intersection. Takes several minutes to restart and unlock steering wheel then drives fine.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine unexpectedly shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The engine oil warning light as intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no cause of failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
My headlight went out on my car, I got a replacement bulb, put it in and nothing. I got another bulb thinking maybe it's a malfunctioning bulb. Still didn't work, tested the light socket and no power to it, looked up on google for headlight malfunctioning on 2010 Dodge calibers and there are multiple complaints and videos regarding this issue going back to 2007 Dodge calibers. This is an electrical problem and Dodge is aware of this issue but states its not a "safety issue" however you can get a ticket for a headlight being out and your car will not pass inspection without a headlight. So how can this not be a safety issue? This needs to be a recall on this vehicle, just for the diagnostic of this issue will cost me $114/hour to have the shop diagnose the electrical problem, not fix it, just tell me what it is and then labor and parts to fix it. …
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caliber years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (210), 2008 (63), 2010 (32), 2011 (24) and 2009 (23) model years. Electrical complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Dodge Caliber electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for any Dodge Caliber model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Caliber electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition › switch (5 mentions), followed by the instrument cluster/panel (5).
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.