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.
3.2
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,717 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.
I have a 2007 SXT Caliber, bought it brand new in 07, but now I have this issue. My husband drove the car to work, on his way home he stopped and filled the tank up then he went to eat at P.hut. After we at he went to start it and nothing. It would act like it wanted to, but wouldn't. well today we look it up on what it could possibly be and some said it was camshaft and crankshaft sensors. Well we replaced them and still nothing. So we decided to take the fuel pump out and behold the connectors going into the fuel pump were fried. Which could've caught fire. Called Dodge to see if they had any recalls and no they don't they said. I told them I wasn't the only one who has had this issue. They said well take it to the dealer but you will have to pay for the repairs, since the car is older and has some miles on it. My 2 children sit in the back of this car and now knowing that it could've started fire with them in it, really pisses me off and there's nothing they are gonna do about it. Really"??" I will be going to the dealership and showing them what happened to fuel pump connectors and asking what they are gonna do about it. It's not like I'm taking the fuel pump out and burning it up. This is an issue that needs to be looked at and taken care of before someone gets hurt.
Driving at 35 mph, car suddenly lost power and lightning symbol appeared on dash. Drove it home on side streets at very low speed (would not accelerate past 10-15 mph) put a code reader on the car and came up with code P2119. This is a very dangerous situation, and could very easily cause an accident that could result in a fatality.
I was driving my car on I-10 and the car suddenly jerked and slowed down despite my foot still being on the gas pedal, the car began to shake and then the engine stopped on the middle of the road. I coasted to the median, and waited for 3-4 minutes, (mostly to catch my breath as I was lucky I was not run over by semi's) I restarted the mph was the norm) I had to put on my hazard lights and drive to the next exit. The mechanic said the control board for the crankshaft was blown and needed to be replaced. Seems like a very dangerous situation for other drivers and owners of a Dodge Caliber if it is a common defect. 07dodcaliber/PC684 Dodge crankshaft position sensor.
My 2007 Dodge Caliber was diagnosed by an authorized service center to have a corroded engine cradle and a broken sway bar bracket. The car was deemed unsafe to drive by the servicing center, and I was given an estimate of $731 to repair it. At the time of the diagnosis, the car was only 7 years old with 75,825 miles on it. I contacted Dodge to see if they would offer any assistance, and I explained that I found it completely unacceptable that the frame of my vehicle had rusted through to the point that it was unsafe to drive the vehicle. Dodge customer service contacted the service center to verify the diagnosis and confirmed that they had told me the car was unsafe to drive. However, customer service offered no assistance and told me that they were unable to do anything because the car was outside of it's 3 year warranty and I "didn't fit the parameters" for them to be able to help me. An engine cradle that has completely corroded after just 75,000 miles is a serious safety hazard and, in my opinion, also indicative of a serious manufacturing defect, yet both the dealership and Dodge refused to do anything to rectify the situation.
I went to get my oil changed an the oil change person said he could not change my oil because the oil pan is rotting out from rust an there's another pan there that looks bad to I guessing must be transmission cover, I have never in my life heard of a oil pan rusting out.the car is like new, what do I do.
- Coventry, RI, USA
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After two sets of tires we were told the lower ball joints had to be replaced on front end. Had to park the car and wait a week before the parts came in. We were told it wasn't safe to drive and there should be a recall due to the many problems of this nature. Also the water pump had to be replaced two months prior to this problem. This vehicle was serviced each time at the Dodge dealer who informed us these problem should not have happen so soon.
I purchased this car used from a dealership due to the fact that I have an hour drive to and from work and it appeared to have great gas mileage. Within my first two weeks of ownership the starter was stuck engaged as I drove and caught fire. This I replaced knowing with age, starters and alternators die. A month after servicing the starter, I was driving on the interstate at a speed of 67mph in heavy traffic when a lightening bolt (electronic throttle control sensor light) flashed and the car jerked as if it were to stall. I contacted my local Dodge dealer who informed me that it probably was the throttle body and that I might as well drive the car for a bit because the light was not staying lit. Every since then the light has flashed on atleast once a month with the car violently jerking as to stall. I started the car last week and the idle was miserable so figured the throttle body had gone. Took the car to the local dealership to read codes on the pc. Code was for the throttle body. The throttle body was replaced by a certified dealership mechanic. Within 30 miles and 30mins after leaving the garage the car was jerking to stall as before but the light was not on. Seem to be a serious problem considering stall on interstate at those speeds and hit by a semi would cause instant death. The value of my car is no longer high but you can guarantee the loan and payments are. I am a preschool teacher and make a very small income. Took car instantly back to dealership but I know they will find nothing, charge to much, and send me on my way with a death sentence. Seems as though Dodge/Chrysler has decided that as long as no deaths it is ok to carry on with this refusal to admit that they made a bad product. How about robbing! all I want is my car fixed but of course they will not admit anything. Suppose I will have to call the news, fax the CEO's, and die.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the electronic throttle control failed and the throttle light illuminated intermittently. The contact also stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated to 45 mph and stalled. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have the failure diagnosed. The contact was not sure if the electronic throttle control failure caused the vehicle to stall. The manufacture was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 33,000 and the current mileage is 67,793. Updated 02/09/12 the consumer stated a couple of months after purchasing the vehicle, it stalled. Updated 02/24/12
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact was driving 40 mph when the engine stalled and failed to restart. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 60,000.
At approx 6pm on 11/11 while attempting to enter the interstate my vehicle began to jerk violently. The check engine light began to blink and the vehicle would not exceed 35 mph. I took the vehicle to a local autozone to have it diagnostic. Multiple misfires on all cylinders. I had the spark plugs replaced that weekend because my dealers repair shop was full. Problem still occurred so I left the car at the dealer for them to check the engine. The camshaft sensor needs to be replaced. This is not covered under the 50,000 miles engine and power train warranty because it is not a moving part. I just had to replace both ball joints and upper and lower control arms on the car in June. It is currently at 42,600 miles. The alignment is off again so I'm suspecting the ball joints are going bad again.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact was driving 30 mph and the vehicle began to jerk and hesitate to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the flow control valve actuator needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the replacement parts were on a national back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. During a failed inspection, the contact stated that the engine light illuminated on the instrument panel of the vehicle. Also, the vehicle would wobble while driving at normal speeds. A local mechanic diagnosed the vehicle as needing new struts. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 98,401.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact was entering a residential driveway when the vehicle stalled with the illumination of the ECU warning light. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed for the failure. The current and failure mileage was approximately 71,000. Updated 06/13/11 updated 09/19/11
Driving on fast lane loss of engine power turning right, ongoing problem since car was bought, could eventually cause an accident, car starts jittering, cannot keep driving it and have to park car on the side road hoping the problem goes away.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving approximately 50-55 mph, the vehicle began to shake abnormally. As the contact decelerated, the vehicle exhibited an unusual noise from the passenger side of the vehicle near the front brake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yet the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to the dealer three times for the failure. On the third visit, the dealer replaced the front bushings, front bearing and other unknown repairs but to no avail. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times but never repaired. On one occasion, the vehicle stalled without warning and the vehicle was towed to the dealer but not repaired because they were unable to duplicate or diagnose a failure. The failure mileage was 68,000 and the current mileage was 74,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving at any speed, the contact stated that the vehicle would stall intermittently. The dealer made four attempts to duplicate the failure but to no avail. The contact did not inform the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 52,000 and the failure mileage was 40.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking hot water from the floor of driver and passenger side. The dealer advised her to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was 53,470.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. After driving the vehicle for a two hour period, the contact stated the vehicle would begin to run hot and then the vehicle would stall. The contact stated after waiting for 25 minutes, the vehicle would start back up. The contact spoke with the dealer who advised the repair would be $550. The current and failure miles were not available.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While the contact was driving approximately 55 mph the oil warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel, followed by a sudden engine stall. The engine restarted after waiting a period of ten minutes. The failure occurred intermittently. Also, on a separate occasion the brakes failed to respond with excessive force engaged and then the engine stalled. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician was unable to locate a problem. The vehicle had been taken to authorized on several separate occasions for the identical failures in which both tie rods and an unknown sensor were replaced. The manufacturer was notified who advised the contact to take the vehicle back to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and repair. The failure mileage was 1,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. During initial takeoff, the vehicle would lose power and stall. On other occasions, while driving 5 mph, the vehicle would completely shut off or hesitate for a long period of time. The failure was intermittent and could not be duplicated. The vehicle could almost be restarted immediately after the failures. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer over ten times, but they could never duplicate the issue. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 53,000 and failure mileage was approximately 20. Updated 01/07/09. The consumer stated the vehicle would stall when the clutch was pushed in, or just running in neutral. The RPM's would fluctuate when idling. Updated 01/08/09.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Leo, IN, USA