Dodge Caliber Complaints

1,939 consumer complaints on file.

#11736456May 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Vehicle tipm shut off transmission while driving an cause a traffic jam on a busy intersection caused the transmission system to go in limp mode an no breaks. Was very dangerous lucky I had a hand break that worked cause engine to shut off an studder had to get towed an transported the vehicle home an got it inspected by a mobile mechanic an says the fuse box had blown internal components due to failing internal electrical components or weak points in the tipm system
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728203March 31, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Under paneling under all doors and under car rusting out completely. Falling pieces fly away anytime.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720594February 26, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Rear subframe rotted out, detached at tire arm...see many complaints online
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717352February 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car will not shift. It’s saying that the part that was fixed under the recall is bad. What do I do now?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713355January 26, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the ECU had been hacked. While driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the brakes applied without application, but I was able to move to the right lane. The vehicle was able to pull over safely, and it stalled. While parking with the foot on the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a small pole. There was no reported fire, airbag deployment, police report filed, or injuries. While in neutral, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The driver was able to shift to neutral. The vehicle was making an abnormal growling sound. There was no light inside. While using the headlights, the windshield wipers turned on for five minutes. After locking the vehicle, the headlights remain on. While using the turn signal, the windshield wipers engaged without application. While driving in the rain, the vehicle hydroplaned. The contact stated that someone stole the key fob, made copies, hacked into the vehicle, and was controlling the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, which confirmed the vehicle was working as designed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 154,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697050November 2, 2025
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was just at the dealer mechanic for an oil change and asked about a slight pull to one side when stopping. after doing the oil change he cam back with a list of things the most significant of which was a that the front sub-frame was rotted out, as well as the rear bumper metal under the plastic cover. They gave me an estimate for the repairs exceeding $7000. Then I came home an researched this problem and find its common on these calibers from 2007-2012 and is a known problem!? but no recall was ever issued! There was a "Customer Satisfaction Notification X69" Which I never received. I have also had the vehicle into the dealer other times recently and was never informed of this issue which couldn't have possibly happened over night.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691736October 6, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS, POWER TRAIN
I was informed on 09/29/2025 by my Chrysler dealer that a second critical component of my 2007 Caliber frame had rusted to the point that it broke. The first critical component was reported in my complaint tracking number 11459461 submitted on 04/03/2022. The component in that filing was the engine pan that supported the engine. On this latest failure, I was told the same thing by the shop manager: "If you hit a bump while driving this vehicle you could lose your back wheels". In the first incident, the engine could have fallen out of my vehicle. He was not going to let me drive it home. Then he changed his mind and told me it was "at my discretion". I did drive it home (4.5 miles) with no problem. He told me he was going to try and find a new or used part to fix the issue. He made it clear that he was not hopeful of finding one. This is twice now that my life and the lives of any drivers on the road at the same time were placed in danger from excessive rusting problems. I submitted files in the first incident showing that Chrysler was aware of the issue. A copy of the corporate service bulletin was attached. To my knowledge nothing was ever done. Is anything going to be done this time?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687762September 16, 2025
SUSPENSION
I was at a gas station and attempted to leave the lot and the cradle and/or attached parts broke into, rendering the car undrivable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670928July 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
** From Dealer - diagnosis says - Primary Line B: D1 C/S Multiple warning lights came on in dash (like a X-mas tree) and vehicle will not want to drive after that. C/S has to turn off and turn back on to get to move. C/A TIPM – Total integrated power module – verified customer concern found vehicle with loss of comm dts with tipm no vin mis match dtc present and more than one module aginst tipm recommend replacement of tipm and retesting at this time. The TIPM module controls most if not all of the body functions of the car or truck. Everything from wipers and headlights, starting system and so on. It accepts signals from many diff switches and modules in the car and translates them to the connected systems. $2128.00 is total cost of repair at Dodge Lithia – this should be a recall. There are only about 63,000 miles on her vehicle. ** Safety of driver (my mother in law who is [XXX] or niece) put at risk because car just slows down and stops WHILE driving. She pulls over, stops car, then when she starts car again it's okay for a while until it does this again. ** Safety of those on the road, if her car dies while she's driving it and she has to pull off, if car won't drive, she is stopped on the road or highway with other cars behind hopefully stopping to let her pull off the road. ** Yes it was inspected and reproduced by dealer. Dealer (Dodge Lithia in Kennewick, WA) gave us this information above primary line B, etc lights all come on dash looking like a Christmas tree.... ** No warning lights for this specific issues, only that ALL dash lights come on like a Christmas tree, we paid $300 for one mechanic who couldn't diagnose. Now Dodge has said it's a $2000+ fix - and hopefully this will fix the issue??? ** The only symptom is dashboard lights up, car slows down (de-celerates) and then won't go. Car is turned off, then turned back on and it drives again, then it happens again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655861April 21, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine unexpectedly shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The engine oil warning light as intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no cause of failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647386March 10, 2025
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS) by a local dealer. Recently, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact notified the dealer of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under recall. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer who also stated that the vehicle was not covered under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11624039November 7, 2024
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision, which was no fault of the contact. The contact's vehicle was damaged to the front of the vehicle and on the passenger's front side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the other driver's vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle at a high rate of speed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The paramedics and the local Police arrived at the scene. A Police report was filed, however, the report number was unavailable. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact was transported to the local medical center, however, due to the severity of the injuries and the specific treatments that the contact required, the contact was transferred to a medical center that specialized in the contact's required treatments. The contact-sustained injuries included but were not limited to traumatic brain injury, seizures, impaired speech, physical and mental disabilities, intermittent paralysis, damage to the spinal cord, and amnesia. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11619984October 15, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
Severe rust to vehicle frame COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE, no accident. Rust has corroded frame despite normal use and normal care. Vehicle hasn't reached 75k miles yet, and the frame is failing. How is this not a recall?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619600October 14, 2024
SUSPENSION, WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is at 69739 miles and the control arms and the front and rear subframe is rotted out
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619474October 12, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
This is a follow up to complaint #11459461 filed on 4/3/22 at 9:16:43am. I was not able to send documents at that time. Documents included relate to follow up on complaint #11591104. First pdf file: pages 1-4 Service bulletin from Chrysler - my model year not included; pages 5-7 service invoice and picture of missing engine cradle pan; page 8 original repair invoice; page 9 copy of original repair invoice with notations for Magna plant manager; page 10 notice of having received complaint; page 11 Defective lug nut issue; page 12 Complaint #11591104; page 13 Service invoice noting replacement of two defective lug nuts. Second pdf file: pages 1-2 Copy of original complaint #11459461; page 3 Copy of towing receipt due to defective lug nut. Third pdf file: Picture of three of four defective lug nut covers that I had to remove due to flat tires. First one not shown due to being damaged while attempting to remove beyond recognition. Upper left lug nut cover came off just in handling of removed lug nuts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614739September 16, 2024
AIR BAGS
Active headrest in drivers seat deployed with no apparent cause and air bag light has been on since I bought the car August 29, 2023
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614741September 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Horn started honking on its own
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11595439June 20, 2024
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while it was raining, there was water entering through the sunroof and doors into the vehicle. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated that there were no related recalls for the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall coverage for the failures and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11594174June 13, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Check frame - known rot concerns Hole has started to open up center rear of engine subframe on the weld line. Subframe doesn’t appear to be in immediate failure, but will not pass inspection. Called dealer and was told parts aren’t available! No incident just getting inspected!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11585250April 25, 2024
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that there was a rattling noise coming from the front sub frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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