2008 Dodge Caliber: windshield wiper failure

Filed Nov 1, 2019 · Visibility · 92,000 miles · NC

Driving in a rainstorm, the wipers quit working. Pulled over and re-started car, wipers worked. Got back on the road and it happened numerous more times. Found no problem with fuses, wiring, or wiper motor. Very dangerous.lots more complaints on internet search results.

Filed Jun 14, 2016 · Lights, Visibility · 140,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Jan 21, 2016 · Electrical · MO

I have had this car about 2 weeks now and have noticed a problem with the cruise control switch, also rear wiper motor and the control for the radio on the steering wheel. I believe there to be a wiring problem as I have read many complaints about the same thing. This could be a dangerous hazard especially if the cruise does work it may malfunction while driving or fire hazard

Filed Dec 3, 2015 · Electrical · 126,000 miles · MI

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. Thanks to al serra auto plaza all electrical issues with this car have been resolved: cruise control works, key fobs work, wipers front and back work, washers front and back work, dimmer works, headlights works with the switch, bright headlights work.and turn signals work.

Filed May 11, 2015 · Electrical · 114,325 miles · MI

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.

Filed Feb 7, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · KY

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.

Filed Sep 18, 2014 · Visibility · 92,135 miles · MI

I am reporting a "possible" safety related problem. On two separate occasions, upon entering the vehicle and starting the car to drive, I noticed the loss of control / power to the following items: left and right turn signal activation, front and rear wiper activation, front and rear widow wash, cruise control activation, park, and interior light activation. (note: head lights did activate.) all activation levers / switches are located on the steering wheel column. Problem was unaffected by the movement of the vehicle, the movement of the steering wheel, or the movement of the column position. Problem disappeared after the vehicle was stopped and the key removed from the ignition. Upon re-entering the vehicle and restarting the car the problem disappeared. Problem is not currently present for examination.

Filed May 29, 2014 · Visibility · 70,000 miles · FL · crash

During a severe rainstorm in my area, I was leaving an event parking lot to drive home. While waiting at the stop light I attempted to turn on my windshield wipers because of the severe rain. They failed to start. While sitting at the light I restarted my car hoping that would alleviate the apparent 'short' in the windshield wipers, but it did not. As the light turned green, I was forced to move forward. While driving slow, I rolled my window down and attempted to guide the car to a safe spot to pull over. I couldn't identify a place through all of the rain, and also I was driving in busy downtown traffic. I started to slow down more but looked forward and all I could see were trees coming up quickly through the blurry windshield; I immediately jolted to a stop as I hit an island/median in the middle of the road. My car was scraped by trees and parking cones which were laying in the median. I heard scraping and a large thud as my car came to a stop. Still in the rain, I put my hazards on and waited until the police arrived. My airbags did not deploy and I am extremely irritated that my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working in a terrible rainstorm. This accident could have been much worse. My vehicle is 6 years old; at the 5 year mark I took it in for a full-system maintenance where I was told that everything was working fine. I am very disappointed in my choice in purchasing dodge.

Filed Aug 6, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 100,000 miles · NV

The main issue is not being able to take the car out of "park" when it is running. For the past year it has happened intermittently. The last 2 days none of my trying and retrying to get it out of park works. Also, my windshield wipers come on whenever they feel like it. Mostly upon starting. I also cannot reset my change oil light.

Filed Aug 15, 2012 · Visibility · 24,102 miles · NJ

While driving on an interstate at 60 miles per hour at night in a heavy rain, my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working. I could not see but I luckily stopped on the shoulder. After several minutes the wipers started up. I traveled 20-30 minutes and it happened again. After pulling over and waiting several minutes, they restarted. I drove off and soon it happened for a third time. After waiting several minutes, the rain stopped and I traveled home. This failure is very similar to the cause listed in the 2008 jeep liberty recall due to a defective windshield wiper motor. I am being charged $343 by a dealer to replace the wiper motor.

Filed Apr 12, 2012 · Lights, Visibility · 76,800 miles · OK

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.