CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2007 Dodge Caliber has all kinds of suspension problems at relatively low mileage: typically 40-50,000 miles.
The most commonly reported problems are with ball joints & control arms going bad. Tie rods & leaking struts are also reported failing in the same mileage range.
Unfortunately all the suspension problems means some owners only find out after they notice their tires are ruined.
We've given the 2007 Caliber our worst rating because these problems happen at such low mileage, & it involves a wide range of apparently defective parts. With most other cars, major suspension work is pretty rare under 50,000 miles.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,838 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
On Nov. 22, 2016 I was driving to work at 6:00 am. My Caliber started making a hissing noise, after about 2 minutes of this the engine shut off and I lost all electric power. The car was towed to the shop and the starter was replaced. 2 weeks later the same thing happened. This time nothing was replaced, due to the car starting at the garage. Again on Dec. 20 the same thing with the exception of I was on my way home. The started was again replaced. This recurred on Jan 9, 2017. The started was replaced again. It happened again on Jan. 20, again the starter has been replaced. According to the mechanic, they cannot find anything else wrong. This is a serious safety issue. Luckily I haven't been driving at a high rate of speed, but if this would occur at 65 or 70 mph it could cause serious problems. After doing some research on-line, I have found several other complaints about this problem.
I've owned the car since new, recently we had a problem with a dead battery. After replacing the battery, the car would not go more than 20 miles per hour and we had engine fault codes. Once we cleared out the codes, the car ran fine. However, we now had a front headlight that was out. Replacing the bulb didn't work. The only way to get the front headlights both on was to turn on the high beams. After doing some research from a Dodge dealership and on the internet, I have found the issue is widespread and due to poor design of the fuse box on these vehicles, also known as the tipm. I believe the drain on the battery was caused by the poor design of the tipm and with that one incident, started the failure process. This vehicle has 150,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. I have replaced the tipm with a used one from a auto supply yard, I still get intermittent starting of the vehicle and while both headlights are working, the high beams are now not working.
Engine throttle control light came on after pumping gas, vehicle vibrated. Light came on intermittently on trip home, would slow speed down and it would go off. Exited interstate, came to full stop, accelerated to go, and car vibrated and almost stalled as pulling out. Drove vehicle for two more days - light came on and would vibrate - almost stalled in 2 busy intersections. Previous recall on 25K 2007 Dodge Calibers - mine not included in recall. Unable to get an appt at Dodge dealer for a week. Decided this was a safety issue and did not drive. Issue happened while driving and stationary, on highway at high speeds and on city street, turning. Issue caused the vehicle to not go normal speeds - was unable to go posted speed limit. Contacted Dodge/Chrysler recall - they will not admit this is a widespread issue. Numerous vehicle owners are running into this at 90-130K miles. It is a safety issue if your computer or electronic malfunctions as you are driving 70 mph or through a busy intersection and vehicle stops. Was going various speeds as I was 90 miles away from home 70 mph, then today could not go higher than 40 mph.
Driver side headlight does not work. Replace light twice, neither one works. High beam works, but not low beam. Have been told need to replace tipm (main fuse block). Appears to be typical problem with this car.
- Irmo, SC, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
My car will as I'm driving cut off lose all power starts shaking jerking and won't above 5to7 miles an hour happens all time driving with my kids from school it does on freeway very unsafe almost got rear-ended a couple times very scary
Turn signals start to fail, even with the faulty bulb replaced newly replaced bulb does not work. Brought the car to the dealership and diagnosed the tipm (totally integrated power module) is faulty. Checked the internet and forums for similar issues other owners have worse issues such as headlights randomly going out, stalling at highway speeds, windshield wipers failing... that they are encountering due to a faulty tipm which can be a safety issue. The clockspring failure causes the airbag warning light to come on which signifies that the airbag will not work when it needs to. The cruise control system intermittently works which is also affected by the clock spring. Both lower control arms bushings (left and right) have been replaced twice due to wear. Seems excessive wear between 58K and 80K miles with mostly highway driving on smooth roads.
Driving along temp sensor for what I found out later was for transmission starts flickering making the car go 10 miles an hour get to stop light car shuts off have to turn key off and on and hope I don't get hit from behind this happens off and on but now has become constant can't even drive anywhere then to top it off I find out its a common complaint and five hundred dollars who can afford it I will never own another car that has the T.I.P.M. to delicate and from what I gather a known problem to Dodge help me foot the cost so I don't lose my job oh I was coming to a stop at a red light in the city
The radio, passenger side headlight and various other problems which a mechanic has told me are controlled by the tpim are not working ! the headlight shut off while I was driving on the interstate! according to everything I'm reading, this is a common problem for multiple years and models of daimler/ Chrysler products. I have tried to replace the headlight twice and it's not broken. This should be recalled immediately ! it's the poor engineering design of the tpim housing! the housing has multiple vent holes in it and it is located in the engine compartment that is often exposed to moisture! please help, I do no have $1000 to pay Chrysler for their poor engineering of the car! thanks
Four four months now my car has intermittently experienced electrical failures including stuttering, dashboard lights flashing on and off, windshield wipers coming on their own and total shutdown all while the car is in motion at varying speeds. I have had my alternator replaced twice, my battery replaced and my spark plugs changed out. I have researched and am fairly certain it is my tipm which is a common problem for my make and model of car that Dodge has decided isn't worth their time to fix. I have almost crashed multiple times due to the random failure of my tipm and thusly find it unsafe to drive my vehicle anymore.
Bought car used in 2014. Within a week the maniverter needed replaced. Dash lights recently stopped working while driving at night. Cannot see speedometer or other gauges at night. Transmission stops working when it is hot out, trans temp light comes on and trans shuts down when driving on highways which has almost caused numerous accidents. Car stalls several times after filling with gas causing dangerous situations when driving especially pulling out into traffic after filling gas tank. Control arms and ball joints on front of car replaced with parts from Dodge dealer and are bad for a second time. We will never buy another Dodge vehicle.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the electronic throttle control failed. The failure had occurred on several occasions with the electronic throttle control warning indicator blinking on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 25 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck without warning. The contact also mentioned that the windshield wipers, defroster, and radio became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V234000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Updated 05/17/16 the consumer stated the crossbar was repaired.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal noise in the front end. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side ball joints and control arms failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. While driving at various speeds, the windshield wipers would independently activate. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start. The contact stated that the electronic throttle control warning indicator would illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Have had several batteries, starters and alternators replaced over the past 3 years. Car has 140,000 miles on it. Recently the engine light went on. Now when it rains, the dashboard warning lights go off like a christmas tree with the the warning bell sounding. Car won't go over 20mph. If I turn it off and then on again (sometimes after a few tries) it starts up fine. Like the car but can't afford whatever is wrong to fix it.
Left front lo beam quit working. Took to shop to replace and was told that the tipm is bad and will need to be replaced at a cost of almost $1000. Believes rear wiper may also be effected.
Totally integrated power module problems. Having all kinds of cascading electrical problems with this car with only 70K miles. Driver's side low beam will no longer work. Engine intermittently stops/starts. Acceleration issues, etc. Chrysler wants over a $1,000 to address this issue, and the replacement tipm would likely fail in similar manner shortly thereafter. Extremely unsafe car day or night.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 45 mph, the contact noticed that the anti skid and ABS warning lights illuminated without warning. All of the instrument panel lights also illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear ends of the vehicle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who approved the repairs performed by another dealer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 02/12/16
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The starter was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 55 mph, the horn independently activated and the steering wheel seized. All the warning lights on the instrument cluster illuminated and the gauges and meters provided inaccurate readings. The vehicle stalled as it veered into a ditch. In addition, the contact noticed smoke underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,023.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Boyertown, PA, USA