NHTSA Complaint #10492362 — 2008 DODGE CALIBER

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. USING A FLASH LIGHT, I FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE CIRCUIT CARD IN THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) SHORTED AND MELTED PART OF THE PLASTIC COVER. THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE PUT IN NEUTRAL, AND THE BREAK PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL WERE INOPERATIVE. IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A HIGH WAY, I AM SURE THAT THE INCOMING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE HIT MY CAR WITH SPEED OVER 65MPH DUE TO SUDDENLY DECELERATION AND LACK OF VEHICLE'S RESPONSE TO THE DRIVER'S COMMANDS. MY WIFE, THREE YEARS OLD DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH. *TR