2007 Dodge Caliber Visibility & Wipers Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while it was raining, there was water entering through the sunroof and doors into the vehicle. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated that there were no related recalls for the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall coverage for the failures and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

BACKSEAT WINDOW EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE, WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, ALL WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND OUTSIDE TEMP OF 80 . CONTACTED SAFELITE GLASS REPAIR, WAS TOLD, WE HAVE REPAIRED 19000 2007 DODGE CALIBER WINDOWS...THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS COMPLAINT

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING VERY SLOW EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ON HIGH, EVENTUALLY STOPPING ALL TOGETHER DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM CAUSING ME TO HAVE VERY POOR VISIBILITY. I ASSUMED IT WAS A BAD WIPER MOTOR BUT IT ENDED UP BEING THE TIPM( CONTROL MODULE). JUDGING FROM ALL THE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS, EXSPENSIVE , COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER RT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY UNTIL THE RAINING CEASED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE THEN REACTIVATED BUT FAILED WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED ONCE THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO HERS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

FIRST HEAVY RAINFALL OF THE SPRING, TRAVEL IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TOWARD SEATTLE. I HAD NOT HAD TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON ANYTHING BUT INTERMITTENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WHEN NEEDED FOR THE HEAVIER RAINS AND TRAFFIC THIS MORNING, THE WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN THE PRIMARY WIPER FUNCTION (CONTINUAL OPERATION-NEITHER SLOW OR FAST). IT WAS NECESSARY TO HOLD THE WIPER CONTROL ARM IN THE DOWN POSITION TO KEEP THE WIPERS WORKING THUS NOT ALLOWING ME TO KEEP TWO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THE RECALL ASSOCIATED TO THE NITRO PARTS (CHRYSLER J28/CAMPAIGN 09V438000-3 NOV 2009) DID NOT APPLY. I WILL BE CHECKING THE PART NUMBER OF THE PCM FOR BOTH VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SAME PART IS USED IN EACH PRODUCTION LINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND TIPM WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500.

WINDSHIELD IS ALWAYS BEING OILED UP DUE TO DASHBOARD DETERIORATING. THIS IS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN AND WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN CLEANED MULTIPLE TIMES TO WHERE IT HAS NO OIL ON WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN A FEW HOURS IT IS BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE. THIS PROBLEM IS GENERALLY WORSE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED. *TR

WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, AND THERE IS ANY TYPE OF PRECIPITATION. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. YOU HAVE TO EITHER BEAT ON THE WINDOWS, WAIT OVER AN HOUR FOR THE CAR TO WARM UP, OR USE A SPRAY DICER (HAVE NOT TRIED THIS YET). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, COLD WATER DRIPPED FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE WATER TURNED EXTREMELY HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE FAILED AND MADE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT IS 36,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED*JB