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.
Defective power train manufacture had clear knowledge after the car went in product and was manufactured. When car in motion get low squeezing noise on city street or highway. Taking a trip at that time and still having same sound today pls jerking.
The transmission continuously overheats causing the vehicle to lose power. The is no notification other than a light at the time it starts to slow down. At this point you have to maneuver cautiously through fast moving traffic to pull over for about 15 minutes each time. I have almost been in multiple accidents (and almost caused a few) because of the unannounced extreme loss of power. I've taken the car for multiple transmission flushes and filter changes. Nothing works and I'm repeatedly told that many Calibers are having the same issue but the manufacturer has not created a solution. The vehicle has remained parked for the last 2 years. My daughter took it out for a drive today and was stuck on the freeway twice in a 30 mile trip due to the transmission. I cannot sell or use the vehicle for obvious safety reasons.
When accelerating my vehicle is slow to take off with max speeds of only 50 mph on the freeway and 30 mph city. I have pressed the gas all the way and car is still lagging. The cel stays on and the following diagnostic codes are read P0722 which is trans output speed sensor U1146 which is a communication error P0717 which is input speed sensor 1 circuit no signal P0700 which is transaxle control system malfunction and P0712 which is trans fluid temp sensor low input. I took it to a local shop and they suggested I take it to the dealer to perform a tcm software update and its still doing the same thing even after the codes were cleared. Now a code is read that has to do with a large evap leak. Am I being steered in the wrong direction so that the dealer can avoid honoring the factory recall of the powertrain control module/fuel pump relay nhsta campaign number: 08V528000. My specific VIN did not show up as being recalled but I would like to know if my issue can be further investigated. Please help.
After 60 minutes driving at highway speeds the engine revs rise but speed falls. Transmission overheating warning comes on although the temperature has not risen very much. Car has to be stopped and needs to wait 20 minutes for temperature to return to "normal". Dodge dealer cannot diagnose the problem as they will not take a long test drive.
The cvt transmission keeps failing. To date, I've had it replaced under the lifetime powertrain warranty four times. Once at 17000 miles, again at 92000 miles, again at 117000 miles, and now at 135000 miles. No root cause has been identified, yet each time the same failure mode happens - warm temperature, limp mode, and eventually a screaming sound with no engagement.
- Madison, AL, USA
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The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving 55 mph, the transmission warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The failure recurred on many occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 179,000.
This car attempted to kill me twice. First the subframe rotted out due to bad design. We noticed this as the struts were being replaced - also because of bad design. This was noticed in 2014 (on a 2009 vehicle!) cost me over $1,000 to fix - Dodge offered no help at all. Later in 2014 - the front drivers side arm separated from wheel, causing wheel to pop off. If I was going any faster than the 10 mph I was going (headed to highway!), I could have been killed. Again contacted Dodge and no assistance. They recalled the 2007 but not this model year for these problems. Pictures attached. I hope someone holds this company accountable! cars should not cost thousands of dollars to repair in year 5!!!
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power train control module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V528000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 199,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving highway speeds, the vehicle began to decelerate from 60 to 30 mph without warning. The contact discovered that if the vehicle was turned off and restarted and the accelerator pedal was pressed, the vehicle would accelerate with no issues for a while before the failure would recur. The dealer diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The certified mechanic diagonoised that the PCM needed to be replaced and the dealer verified the diagnosis. The PCM was not repaired. The manufactuer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
On May 7th, 2016 I was involved in an accident. My car stalled and no matter what I did, pressing, pumping, or mashing, my brakes would not slow or stop the car. Now, my car has done this in the past usually right as I am coming to a full stop. The first month I owned the car, I casually told the service writer at my local dealership about it and they said not to use cheap gas. I told them that I use gas from shell, not cheap gas. Then it would happen again, I would mention it again, being told about using cheap gas. Which again, I told them I don't use cheap gas in my car. I believe my accident was caused by the issue listed in NHTSA campaign number: 08V528000.
The cvt transmission is junk. Constantly down shifting itself, even when the cruise is set, and being drove short low speed distances. I'm not the only one complaining. Several people I have talked to that own them have the same problems. Already returned one Caliber to the dealer, even after replacing the transmission it did no good. A week later it was right back in the garage
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. When attempting to drive above approximately 20 mph, the transmission failed and the vehicle was not able to move from first gear. The check engine light illuminated. The contact stated that the K- frame was rusted. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who advised that the contact needed to locate a dealer to have the vehicle repaired. The certified mechanic cleared all the codes for the transmission; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,180.
2009 Dodge Caliber, within 3 months of buying vehicle, as is, started having acceleration problems, brake and suspension problems. Took vehicle to dealer, was informed I needed suspension bar and struts replaced which would cost over $800. About the same time my transmission overheat light started coming on, I loose power and have to pull over on the side of the road for 15-30 minutes before vehicle would drive again. Go approx. 23 miles at a time when same problem occurs. Worse in the summer time. Today, my electronic throttle control light, malfunction indication light and engine overheat light came on and remains on every time I start the vehicle. Vehicle will not accelerate without getting up between 3 & 4 RPM's. not much power. When hitting a bump or ice at stopping point, vehicle jumps ahead instead of stopping, almost causing me to rear end several times. Tons of complaints about these same issues. Something must be done. I paid $10700 for my vehicle. Cant even afford to get it fixed as repairs are now estimated over $4200. This is not right to do to people...
Started out when I drive more than 23 miles, trans. Overheat light comes on, loose power. Going up hills, very little power. RPM wraps between 3 & 4, normal driving, when stopping car jumps ahead if I hit a bump. Breaks squeak after replacing brand new, now engine overheat light, electronic throttle control light & malfunction indication light on. Had transmission filter and fluid replaced. Lasted 2 weeks. Worse now..
For the last 3 years I have had trouble with the car loosing acceleration after driving it for a period of time. At first it would go several hours but now I can't go for a 30 minute drive and over 70mph before it looses acceleration on the highway. I will be driving and then the RPM's race all the way to the maximum, the temp. Gauge comes on and it looses power. I can put the pedal to the floor and it won't go anywhere. I have to sit and wait for it to 'cool' off which is crazy since it's not over heated. This can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour each time. When I try to start out again after it's set, I can go another mile before it happens again and I start all over. I have had it to several mechanics and they can't find anything wrong. They don't have the time to take it out on a drive like that to have it happen to them. It's a hazzard and I've been almost rear ended a few times by semi's and other cars. This car is very unsafe but it's all I have. I now have a piece of something hanging from the undercarriage and the front end is very loose. This is a death trap yet when I call the company, nothing is done. So glad they stand by their product. At the bottom of this complaint it asks when it happened, it happens every time I get on the highway so there's no specific date, all the time.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The failure recurred five times. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine cradle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Have not recieved a recall. Your site says my car could have a crash without warning. Due to faulty adhesive used in powertrain control module and cause printed circuit board to break. I did have vehicle checked out by singerland, corunna, mi. 09-30-14. I asked for powertrain results and was told they would be mailed....as of May 2015, I have not received any paperwork. They gave me a vehicle checkup sheet that says my wipers need to be replaced....nothing about a recall on powertrain. Please advise what to do regarding my serious car condition? have not had a crash. Your site required dates...thus dates are untrue.
When driving for long distance with two or more in car, transmission overheats and slows car until it cools. It will not cool unless stopped and shut off. This takes about 20 minutes.
I had been driving approximately one hour when I began to climb the incline over sb 5 fwy (grapevine) and the engine began whining, rpms rose to 4 and remained there, the transmission overheat dashboard light illuminated, speed dropped to about 30 mph and I was unable to continue up the incline. Had to pull off and let the vehicle sit for 30 minutes at which time I continued up the incline making sure that the rpms did not go above 2.5 - so keeping the speed low - and had no further incident. This happened again on 8/21/04, same circumstances, at approximately 79,000 miles. There was a recall on this model and model year vehicle for this same issue (recall #08V528000) on November 10, 2008, but according to my dealer, my car's VIN was not included. I believe this warrants investigation into whether or not this was a more widespread issue than was originally thought and whether my vehicle should have been included in the recall.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while driving various speeds. The failure occurred numerous times. A certified mechanic performed a diagnostic, which located a failure code at the power train computer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V52800 (power train). The failure mileage was 33,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hampton, GA, USA