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.
The brakes fail.The brakes make noise.The speedometer is incorrect.The rpms are incorrect.The back windshield wiper washer does not work and squirts water into the car.The tires are wearing unevenly.There is continuous water in the right rear taillight.The engine light keeps coming on.The steering is very bad.I believe the odometer was tampered with before I got the car.The headlights keep fogging over.The electrical is bad.The remote for this car is broken again. Obrien won't fix any of the problems.They took my 1500.00 cash and my 626 mazda lx for 3500.00.The gave me a loan for 6500.00 for this piece of garbage that is hazardous to my son and me.I notice this car has recalls also. We are not safe riding in this deathtrap.The mechanic manager told me the rotors were already cut once. At 48k? How can that be?They won't take any responsibility for this lemon they forced me to buy.
The tail lights collected condensation over the years even after trying to reseal the light fixtures, but no fix. Therefore I paid over $200 for after market tail lights and had them installed. A pain in the neck to have the OEM lights constantly have black moldy water in your tail lights and for the lights to be obscured and blurry.
The first year I bought my Caliber back in 2007, I took the car to dealer to have the rear lights fixed because water had accumulated in them, along with a loose screw in the driver's seat; I took it back the following year because the windshield wipers would not shut off. I replaced the alternator last year and a week later the battery. Now I need to take the car back to have the rear lights drained again. The dealship told me there was only a 1 year or 12k mile warranty on the lights. I was quoted $150 per light to fix this problem. This car is costing more money to repair than my 740 Volvo which I bought used with over 50k miles and added over 100k miles to it. I want to continue buying American, but really? All these problems with a relatively new car???
This is definitely a cronic problem - I have seen several others driving around with water sloshing in the the tail lights. I was told I was past my warranty and it would cost a lot to replace the tail lights or they could drill holes in the bottom for $150 or so to drain them. I had my son in law drill the holes for free.
- Donna B.,
Parish, FL, US
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The brakes fail.The brakes make noise.The speedometer is incorrect.The rpms are incorrect.The back windshield wiper washer does not work and squirts water into the car.The tires are wearing unevenly.There is continuous water in the right rear taillight.The engine light keeps coming on.The steering is very bad.I believe the odometer was tampered with before I got the car.The headlights keep fogging over.The electrical is bad.The remote for this car is broken again. Obrien won't fix any of the problems.They took my 1500.00 cash and my 626 mazda lx for 3500.00.The gave me a loan for 6500.00 for this piece of garbage that is hazardous to my son and me.I notice this car has recalls also. We are not safe riding in this deathtrap.The mechanic manager told me the rotors were already cut once. At 48k? How can that be?They won't take any responsibility for this lemon they forced me to buy.
- Susan K., Fort Myers, US