NHTSA Complaint #10419678 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER BEFORE THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS TO 8,000. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE SMART BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V234000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AROUND 30,000 HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS, CAR ALARM, POWER WINDOWS AND POWER LOCKS WERE ALL AFFECTED. THE RADIO, HORN AND LED PANELS WERE HAVING MINOR ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO THEREFORE THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED UP UNTIL 50,000 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. HOWEVER, ONLY THE POWER LOCKS AND CAR ALARM WERE AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER WARRANTY AND SINCE THEY WERE MINOR, THE CONSUMER LEARNED TO JUST LIVE WITH. HOWEVER, ON AUGUST 4, 2011 AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT HAYWIRE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF, THE DOME LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE THE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BRAKING ITSELF TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE THEN FISH TAILED AS THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. UPDATED 09/29/11. JB