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Exterior lightingPart report

2008 Dodge Caliber Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
4%of 360 total for the year
Median mileage
78,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Dodge Caliber, 4% of the 360 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The right front passenger fog/blinker goes is not always functional. When the front right fog/blinker is not working the back blinks fast to indicate a bulb out. The bulbs have been replaced the wiring has been checked from the tipm box all the way to the light. I have gone over 2 months without my car to see what's wrong but no one can figure it out and there are no codes that generate. The tipm box is working in perfect order and that is not the cause. …”

NHTSA complaint #10850768, filed 2016-03, 120,000 miles

“Sitting on I-10 stopped when a tractor trailer rear ended me. His speed was 40 miles per and no airbags deployed. The front air bags should have helped me from getting my face cut and prevented my injury. I wish the bags would have worked. We just had the car checked out at the Dodge dealer a few months prior. The driver front bag burning me would have been better then the blunt force to my face.”

NHTSA complaint #10459986, filed 2012-05, 86,500 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10681918, filed 2015-02, 90,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10492362, filed 2013-01, 10,250 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10454980, filed 2012-04, 76,800 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201224%
201164%
201074%
200952%
2008144%
20079311%

Other parts of the 2008 Dodge Caliber

Suspension
113 complaints
Body and structure
87 complaints
Electrical system
58 complaints
Engine
43 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
37 complaints
Steering
35 complaints
Other or unknown
28 complaints
Vehicle speed control
27 complaints
Air bags
22 complaints
Brakes
22 complaints
Wheels
16 complaints
Fuel system
14 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Dodge Caliber

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology