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.
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...
Took my 2009 Dodge Caliber in for inspection. Front sub-frame / cross member is rotting away and almost rusted. Rest of the car has very little rust. Called Chrysler customer care. Dodge is aware of the problem and extended the warranty for the 07 but not the 09 knowing the issue was not resolved. Have an appointment at the dealership (who are awesome) to inspect the problem further.
The 2009 Dodge Caliber was deemed unsafe and unable to pass a Maine safety inspection. The front and rear cross sub frames were heavily rusted and completely rusted through in several places.
Took car in for inspection, was told cradle, subframe is rotted. Was told there was a recall. Chrysler did recall 2007 2008.but not 2009. Car has less than 60,000 miles. Body is not rusted. Called customer care and was told they are aware there is a problem and get many complaint but have chosen not to extend recall. Even though they know there is a problem. Almost every complaint on this website is about the same issue.
Took my 2009 Dodge Caliber in for annual state inspection, failed because of a cracked K member (sub frame) on the left side and loose left tie rod. Shop does not do repairs. Took to another repair shop in Vermont for a second look. He found that the K member corroded with holes near the mounting bolt on the K member and corrosion on the lower control arms. He ordered parts to replace the K member and lower control arms. He also replaced the outer tie rod which I had purchased after the failed inspection. Steering quicker to left than to the right before taking the car in for the failed inspection
- Cambridge, NY, USA
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The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic noticed the rear trailing arm bushing was stuck to the suspension. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
After suspecting some front end suspension issues I took my 2009 Dodge Caliber to my regular mechanic. Upon inspection he reported that, along with control arms needing to be replaced, the subframe was unusually rusted and corroded to a point that was unsafe to drive. I investigated the matter and found that Chrysler issued an extension on the factory warranty to cover the same issue on the 2007 Calibers but when I contacted Chrysler customer service they informed my that there has been no recall or warranty extension for the 2009 Caliber. The car is at the garage and will be getting fixed tomorrow. I have taken pictures and will pursue the issue further.
While braking on the exit ramp from the highway I felt a pop under the front of the car. The drivers side lower control arm broke away from the cross member due to a failure of the cross member from excessive rust and corrosion.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving 35 mph, the contact noticed that an object fractured from underneath the vehicle. In addition, the contact heard a noise underneath the vehicle. The dealer stated that the subframe was corroded and contained holes. The technician diagnosed that the subframe and control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 54,000.
I bought my car used in June of 2014 and thought it was in pretty decent shape at the time, little did I know. I was driving my car (2009 Dodge Caliber) and hit a small pothole and heard some rattling afterwards. I assumed it was maybe a clamp on my exhaust and so wasn't real worried about it and figured I would have my mechanic check it out in a week of so. I got concerned after a couple days because the rattling turned into clunking. I sent it to my mechanic and he said there was major rot on the engine cradle which was rotted and broken and both front control arms were no good and sway bar bushings also needed replacing, two days before this noise I was on the highway traveling at speed limit, had this all fallen apart I could have been killed. The cost to repair all the parts which were, as far as my mechanic is concerned, faulty and should be recalled, was $1920.13 !!! this car is 6 years old with 86,000 miles on it and should not have the rot in these places as severe as it is. I know on the Dodge Caliber forums many owners have similar problems with the major front end parts rotting. This is a major problem and I wouldn't even have noticed had my mechanic not put it on a lift and looked at it and even then once he took off the engine cradle to replace it he noticed the rotted parts that were covered by the cradle, thank god I didn't lose control and get killed as I travel a lot on the highway, this problem needs to be brought to light and Caliber owners need to have their mechanics check out their cars before someone's engine falls out and they get killed. When I purchased this car it was most likely rotted pretty bad and I didn't know that was a defect in them at the time. I see lots of these cars for sale still on lots, people need to have the front ends inspected thoroughly before they purchase one.
Upon inspection of my vehicle, my mechanic noted that the frame crossmembers were rusted to the point of needing immediate replacement. He stated the car was unsafe and could have caused a major accident.
Car started falling apart at around 48K tie rods. Control arms. Struts. Bushings. Ball joints. Bearings. Sway bar links. Lateral arm bushings. Upper control arm bushings. Upper tow links. Front strut mounts. My latest repair bill (today) is $1500 and the car has only 60K on it. The catalytic converter is also slated for replacement as soon as the dealer gets it in. I am a very conservative driver and always keep my car serviced. I bought this car brand new. The suspension on this car is a menace. The blower motor also went at 48K (a safety issue in my northern mn winters) and the rear defroster only has two or three lines that work. The power steering unit is also losing fluid and I will have to have that repaired as well. I am more than happy to provide a print out from Firestone auto repair.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the passenger rear tire continued to go flat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the tires and noticed both front lower control arms needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified who stated there was no recall for the failure and offered no assistant. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 28,822.
Front lower ball joints totally worn and in danger of separating from control arm. This happened before 50,000 miles resulting in excessive inner tire tread wear. Other possible results: Loss of steering, suspension and brakes.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. While driving 3 mph, the vehicle suddenly stopped. After inspecting, the contact noticed that there was a single bolt that attached to the bottom arm which had loosened and caused the front passenger wheel to move outward. The movement of the wheel pulled the driveshaft out of the transmission and stopped the vehicle. The vehicle was being towed to an authorized dealer. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
2009 Dodge Caliber has no adjustments for rear camber and requires an after-market bolt installation for front. My 2009 Dodge Caliber [xxx], has eaten the inside edges off all 4 tires (scooped) this was written off as tire wear-ok on each Chrysler service. I noticed that the insides of the tires were scooped out when the wheels were turned out when I parked recently. Essentially, you as the owner get to replace four tires every 24,000 miles and there seems to be no solid repair. My car has 17,425 miles and I am disgusted that this is a problem that essentially has no repair. The bolt the installed in the R front allows for a + or - 1 degree adjustment. What happens if the owner doesn't find the problem? blowouts and crashes. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA