After purchasing this 2011 Dodge Caliber with 60,000 miles from a dealership with extended warranty (100,000miles), we were very disappointed with this vehicle. At about 90,000 miles when driving on an extended trip the car would suddenly show it was overheating on the dashboard and it would slow down where you could not accelerate over 50 mph on the interstate. Upon checking the cooling system, the engine, radiator, etc. was not overheating as indicated. Once the car sat for awhile it would drive and accelerate normally.
I took the car to the dealer as is was under extended warranty, but it would never display the same issues with them as they would not drive it over an hour to duplicate the issue of longer travel. After several more attempts to get them to find the problem, the milage was finally over 100,000 mile warranty. Around town it did not have this problem, so we just used the car in town. The problem eventually got worse even around town at 125,000 miles, took it to transmission shop and they confirmed it was the transmission.
About $2,500 later with rebuilt transmission, I was reviewing the bill and noticed itemized on the bill "Thermostats". When questioning the shop they told me that yes there were thermostats in the transmission to keep if from overheating and would slow the vehicle down to prevent damage. So, that makes sense why it was slowing down all while under warranty. Funny the dealership who specialize in the vehicles they sell did not realize this. How convenient!
Hope this helps someone in the future to have them look at the thermostats in the transmission as a possible problem. Of course it would still take pulling it out I assume. Dodge should have known this and had alerts to at least their repair shops if they already didn't know.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
After purchasing this 2011 Dodge Caliber with 60,000 miles from a dealership with extended warranty (100,000miles), we were very disappointed with this vehicle. At about 90,000 miles when driving on an extended trip the car would suddenly show it was overheating on the dashboard and it would slow down where you could not accelerate over 50 mph on the interstate. Upon checking the cooling system, the engine, radiator, etc. was not overheating as indicated. Once the car sat for awhile it would drive and accelerate normally.
I took the car to the dealer as is was under extended warranty, but it would never display the same issues with them as they would not drive it over an hour to duplicate the issue of longer travel. After several more attempts to get them to find the problem, the milage was finally over 100,000 mile warranty. Around town it did not have this problem, so we just used the car in town. The problem eventually got worse even around town at 125,000 miles, took it to transmission shop and they confirmed it was the transmission.
About $2,500 later with rebuilt transmission, I was reviewing the bill and noticed itemized on the bill "Thermostats". When questioning the shop they told me that yes there were thermostats in the transmission to keep if from overheating and would slow the vehicle down to prevent damage. So, that makes sense why it was slowing down all while under warranty. Funny the dealership who specialize in the vehicles they sell did not realize this. How convenient!
Hope this helps someone in the future to have them look at the thermostats in the transmission as a possible problem. Of course it would still take pulling it out I assume. Dodge should have known this and had alerts to at least their repair shops if they already didn't know.
- JOHN D., Kingston Springs, TN, US