Dodge Caliber Keyless Entry Failure, Fix Guide

Had nearly identical issues with my 2006 Dodge Avenger diesel last winter. Having some experience with car electronics, I first suspected the door switch but wanted a professional diagnosis. The keyless entry completely failed, showing similar symptoms. After scanning, the workshop found a wiring fault where cables had worn through near the door hinge area, causing intermittent sensor issues in the door electronics. The door wiring harness needed partial replacement and reconnection. Total repair cost was 95€ including diagnostics. The main problem turned out to be a damaged plug connection of the component where the wiring enters the door panel. Pretty common issue in these models due to constant door movement wearing down the cables over time. What trim level is your Caliber? Also, before the complete failure, did you notice any intermittent operation or unusual clicking sounds when using the remote? These details could help confirm if its the same door electronics issue I experienced. Worth checking the easy stuff first, have you already tried replacing the key fob battery? Sometimes simple solutions solve what appears to be complex door sensor issues.

Thanks for sharing those details. Last service was done at 85000 KM with new cabin filters. When my keyless entry first started acting up, I noticed a faint clicking noise from the door actuator about 2-3 weeks before total failure. The car door handle would also feel slightly different when pulling, almost sticky or resistant compared to normal operation. The door switch itself still functions normally when opening from inside, which makes me think the main door electronics might actually be okay and its more likely an issue with just the keyless components or wiring. Will definitely get the wiring checked near the hinge area based on your experience. Tried 2 new key fob batteries already without any change. Good suggestion though, usually thats the first thing to check with remote entry problems.

Thanks for those additional details, your symptoms match my experience exactly, especially that sticky door handle feeling and the clicking noise. These are classic signs of a failing door handle sensor unit in our models. After my repair, I learned the wiring fault near the door hinge is a known weak point. The constant opening and closing motion gradually damages the wire insulation in the door electronics bundle. Water and dirt can then cause corrosion at the connection points of the door actuator. Since your interior door switch works fine, this really points to the external keyless components, just like in my case. The door electronics module itself is usually reliable, its the wiring and connectors that tend to fail. A quick tip: while waiting for repairs, try operating the door handle very slowly when using the physical key. This can sometimes help prevent further stress on potentially damaged wiring in the door electronics system. Based on the repair cost for my Avenger, you should expect something in the 80-120€ range, depending on how much of the wiring harness needs replacement. Most workshops will need about 2 hours to complete the fix properly.

Thanks for the detailed repair advice and cost estimate. The clicking and sticky handle feeling you mentioned matches exactly what I experienced. Really hoping its the same wiring issue you had and not something more complex with the main door electronics system. After checking inside the door panel myself, I can see some wear on the wiring near the hinge area just like you described. The door mechanism still feels solid when using it manually, but the locking system definitely acts strange when trying to use the remote. Will book it in at the workshop next week and have them focus on checking the wiring harness and door sensor connections first. The repair cost you mentioned seems reasonable if it fixes these annoying keyless entry problems. Getting tired of always having to use the physical key, especially when carrying groceries. Will keep monitoring for any changes in the door handle behavior or new sounds from the door actuator until then. Thanks for the tip about operating the handle slowly, makes sense to avoid stressing the wiring further.