Problems · by component

2010 Dodge Caliber electrical system problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Dodge Caliber cite electrical system, 20% of all 157 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
20% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2025Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11655861
“HORN ISNT WORKING AT ALL. CHECKED HORN TO SEE IF IT WAS BROKEN , REMOVED AND TESTED ON ANOTHER TRUCK, THEY WORKED. CHECKED FUSES AND THERE IS NO POWER TO ETHER FUSE. THERE IS NO HORN RELAY. IT IS PART OF THE TIPM. THE RELAY IS ON THE TIPM UNIT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WHEN I FOUND OUT THE HORN FAILED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2020Electrical systemODI 11376420
“2010 DODGE CALIBER WITH HEADLIGHT FAILURES CAUSED BY FAULTY FUSE BOX (TIPM). I REPLACE BULBS AND ONE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT LIGHT LOW BEAM OR HIGH BEAM. ALL THE FUSES ARE GOOD. IT HAS ALSO AFFECTED HOW THE CAR RUNS AND HAS STALLED ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE 4TH OR FIFTH INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR, HEADLIGHTS, STALLING, TURN SIGNALS, AIR BAG INDICATORS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK MOVING OR SITTING STILL AND TURN SIGNALS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11337076
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DURING WINTER, HEAT SHUT OFF. AFTER TURNING HEAT BACK ON (MOVING KNOB TO OFF POSITION AND THEN BACK ON) THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SMOKE SMELL IN THE CABIN. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER CONTROL KNOB AND THE AREA ABOVE THE KNOB WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS CONCERNED THAT I MAY NEED TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK FOR FIRE. WHEN CAR WAS TURNED ON AGAIN, THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT START.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2019Electrical systemODI 11180249
“DODGE PUT THE RELAY BOX RIGHT BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL AND THIS CAUSES THE SNOW, WATER, ICE AND ELEMENTS TO GET INTO THE RELAY BOX AND CORRODE THE RELAYS AND THE ACTUAL RELAY BOX, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE CALIBERS GOING BACK TO 2007 THAT I KNOW OF. THIS WILL CAUSE YOUR CAR NOT TO START OUT OF THE BLUE, AND THE WIRES GET CORRODED GOING FROM THE FUSE BOX TO THE RELAY BOX AS WELL. NOT SURE WHY THEY WOULD PUT THIS TYPE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL WELL WHERE THE ELEMENTS CAN GET INSIDE AND DO DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE VERY PRICY. THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR WITH NO WARNING, NO ACTING UP OR ISSUES, JUST DIED AND WOULD NOT START, MY BATTERY IS BRAND NEW, IT'S NOT THE STARTER IT'S THE CORRODED RELAYS AND RELAY BOX.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2019Electrical systemODI 11180120
“ELECTRICAL THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT HAS POPPED UP SEVERAL TIMES AND I'VE NOTICED IT'S WHEN IT HAS RAINED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND CAUSES FORCEFULLY PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT DOESN'T START AFTER THE FIRST FEW TRIES AND EVENTUALLY DOES. THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AFTER DRIVING IT OVER 60MPH FOR ABOUT 20MINS. THE CAR HAS GIVEN ME THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING SYMBOL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MAKING AN UGLY ALMOST SCREECHING SOUND,SLOWS DOWN THE CAR UNTIL I CAN'T PUSH THE GAS ANY LONGER CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO TURN OFF THE CAR UNTIL IT RESTARTS AGAIN. THE CAR IS BEGINNING TO OVER HEAT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OVER 20 MINS THIS WILL BEGAN TO HAPPEN. I'VE PUT COOLANT RECENTLY AND NOT SURE IF THERE'S A HOLE IN THE RESERVOIR BUT I'VE DONE WHAT I COULD TO GET THIS FIXED. THE CAR JOLTS AFTER 3RD GEAR ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2018Steering, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11145149

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2010 Caliber problem areas