Dodge Caliber Complaints

1,939 consumer complaints on file.

#11282073November 24, 2019
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY/WIPER
LEFT AND RIGHT A POST MUCH TOO WIDE HINDERING ABILITY TO SEE WHERE THE CURB IS IN RELATION TO THE CAR. IT ALSO HINDERS THE ABILITY TO SEE IF A SMALL ANIMAL IS IN THE AFFECTED VIEW. IN RELATION TO THE TRANSMISSION, MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I'VE HAD TO HAVE 2 TIE RODS REPLACED. AN ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED, AND A STRUT REPLACED, I AM ALSO ON MY SECOND BATTERY. THIS CAR HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY SO FAR. I KNOW IT'S 11 YEARS OLD BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS MANY MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH ANY CAR I'VE OWNED SO FAR. THE NEWEST PROBLEM IS A GRINDING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF BEFORE I GET HOME SAFELY. THERE IS A NEW NOISE AS WELL THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A RADIAL TIRE WITH AN ISSUE BUT MY TIRES ARE ALL FINE. I AM TAKING IT TO A GOOD MECHANIC TOMORROW....AGAIN!! AT ONE POINT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND STARTING TO TURN THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OFF, I WAS TURNING LEFT AT THE TIME. MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I SLOWLY WENT TO THE AUTO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A CONNECTOR THAT BROKE AND ALSO A SENSOR THEY HAD TO ORDER. THAT COST OVER $400 PLUS I NEEDED TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME. NOT A FAN OF THE CALIBER AT ALL. I DO LOVE THE STYLE IT'S SPORTY AND EASY TO DRIVE, WHEN IT'S NOT IN THE SHOP THAT IS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11281281November 20, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I START MY CAR, IT STARTS JUST FINE AND THEN ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE CHECK SIGN WILL COME ON FOLLOWED BY A RED LIGHTING BOLD ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT COMES ON EITHER PARKED OR DRIVING IN A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTS MAKING LOUD NOISES, SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND SPEED REDUCES, SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M STILL DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET. IT SORT OF STARTS FORCING ITSELF TO MOVE WHILE IN MOTION. WHILE THE LIGHT IS STILL ON, IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO OR THE LIGHT IS GREEN, WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PADDLE THE CAR SORT OF TRIES TO MOVE WITH PUSHES, JUST AS THOUGH SOMEONE WAS PUSHING IT WHILE PARKED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MOVES WITH SPEED. TO RESOLVE IT, I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF OCCASIONALLY , WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN START IT FOR THE CAR TO DRIVE NORMALLY ONCE AGAIN UNTIL THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT COMES ON AGAIN. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHETHER PARKED OR IN MOTION. AT TIMES I'D STILL BE DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN THE LIGHTNING SIGN COMES ON, THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE STILL ON DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I'VE TAKEN IT TO DODGE AND OTHER MECHANICS BUT NOBODY IS ABLE TO FIX IT. IT'S REALLY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD WITH THE SUDDEN STOPS, PUSHES AND SHUTTING OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11281357November 20, 2019
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE, THE LATCH FAILED TO OPEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLOCKNER OF ASHLAND (1041 GREENUP AVE, ASHLAND, KY 41101, (606) 329-8616) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH AND TRIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE LOCK AND LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,576. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11280963November 18, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
FRONT SUBFRAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND BROKEN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11280345November 15, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
FIAT CHRYSLER AMERICA RELEASED 2 BULLETINS AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN INFERIOR MATERIAL CAUSING SEVERE RUST AND PERFORATION OF THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER ON 2008-2012 DODGE CALIBER AND 2008-2012 JEEP COMPASS PATRIOT. THE CROSSMEMBER IS AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF ANY VEHICLE. IT SUPPORTS THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. FCA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CURRENTLY REFUSING TO REPLACE THESE PARTS EVEN THOUGH THE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PART IS FAULTY. THE SEVERE RUST ON THIS PART WILL CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO NO LONGER PASS STATE INSPECTION. I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER SINCE FEBRUARY 2017. THE FIRST BULLETIN RELEASED BY FCA REGARDING KNOWLEDGE OF THIS FAULTY PART WAS MARCH 2017, ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. A SECOND BULLETIN REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WAS RELEASED JULY 2017. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED ON AUGUST 2018. AFTER THE SECOND BULLETIN WAS ISSUED, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF 13 MONTHS BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHILE I OWNED THE CAR. I WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE BY FCA IN ANY WAY THAT THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING HAD A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT I COULD HAVE IT ADDRESSED WITHIN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 2019 THAT I WAS HAVING WORK DONE ON MY CAR AND THE MECHANIC BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THE RUST IS SO BAD IT WILL NOT PASS THE NEXT STATE INSPECTION. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO RECALL THIS PART AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE RUST WEAKENS THE METAL AND IF THIS PART WERE TO BREAK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE RESULTS COULD BE DEADLY. FCA IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY PART AND IT IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS FOR FCA TO DENY ADDRESSING THIS KNOWN ISSUE. EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS PASSED, FCA HAS PRODUCED VEHICLES THAT ARE UNSAFE AND THE ISSUE SHOULD BE CORRECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11278057November 4, 2019
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND A LOUD SOUND EMERGED FROM THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CROSSMEMBERS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOLOSSO JEEP DODGE (2701 W COLLEGE AVE, APPLETON, WI 54914) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONTAL CROSSMEMBERS WERE ALSO RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277824November 3, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WASHED MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED MY CARS FRAME IS RUSTED OUT. THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FRAME THAT IS NEAR THE MOTOR. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BREAK IN HALF. IT IS WORST WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, LIKE SPEED BUMPS. MY CAR HAS 106K MILES THE BODY HAS LITTLE TO NO RUST. I'VE OWNED IT ONLY A FEW MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277562November 1, 2019
SUSPENSION
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED OUT SO MUCH THAT IT WILL NOT PASS A PA STATE INSPECTION AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER HEARING THIS I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER "IF" IT WILL RUST OUT, JUST A MATTER OF "WHEN". I WAS NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN DURING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION AND FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277627November 1, 2019
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING. PULLED OVER AND RE-STARTED CAR, WIPERS WORKED. GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND IT HAPPENED NUMEROUS MORE TIMES. FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH FUSES, WIRING, OR WIPER MOTOR. VERY DANGEROUS.LOTS MORE COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277129October 30, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE ANNUAL INSPECTON WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT FRONT SUBFRAME ON VEHICLE WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE AND OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON ENOUGH THAT CHRYSLER HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WOULD NOT BE HONORED, EVEN THOUGH SAFETY WAS A FACTOR. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITH A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11271548October 28, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE GETTING MAINTENENCE DONE ON MY CAR, I WAS INFORMED BY MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT AND REAR SUB FRAMES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THE MANY CALIBER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE. DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT HONOR THE FORMER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH SAFETY IS AT STAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11271285October 27, 2019
SUSPENSION
NOTICED NOISE WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD .ON CITY STREETLOOKED UNDER IT SAW SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT WITH BIG RUST HOLES IN IT NOW PARKED NOT SAVE TO DRIVE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11270956October 25, 2019
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING INTO A BUSY STREET, CROSSED OVER TRAIN TRACKS, AND CRASHED INTO A TRAIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE TRAIN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. *DT*DT *TR *DT*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11270497October 23, 2019
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I COULDN'T MOVE RATHER IT WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11270545October 23, 2019
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CARS TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INDACATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS OVER 250 DEGREES AND IT SHUTS DOWN TO WHERE I CANT DRIVE IT IT JUMPS AND IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE I WAS GOING TO THE DR OFFICE OUT OF THE TOWN FROM WHERE I LIVE AND IT PUT ME OUT PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSICT MACHINE AT IT SAID TMC MODUEL I HAVENT HAD IT VERY LONG AND ALL AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE IT TO ME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269961October 21, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD KNOCKING AND CLUNKING NOISES FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TATE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE FREDERICK (5629 BUCKEYSTOWN PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 663-6126) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269814October 20, 2019
POWER TRAIN
WHILE STATIONARY DURING COLD START, CAR CRANKS AND RUNS, BUT AUTOMATICALLY STARTS IN LIMP MODE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SAYING TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND WHILE IN MOTION IT WILL NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH. EVEN ON COLD DAYS. BEEN HEARING ALOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269052October 16, 2019
SUSPENSION
MY CAR MAKING STRANGE NOISES IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO FAR OFF. I WENT TO O RALLY AUTO PART STORE AND SHOW THEM PICTURES AND THEY SAID IT IS THE MOTOR CRADLE OR FRAME. IF THE FRAME IS BENT AND THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT ON IT ,ISN'T A UN SAFE CAR? I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 AND HALF YEARS AND IT IS SO RUSTY PARTS I AM AFRAID OF IT. AND I AM SILL PAYING ON IT A JUNKYARD OR A MANUFACTURED OR DEALER CAN REPLACE IT AND I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND I THINK THE DEALER KNOW THIS CAR WAS LIKE THIS WENT HE SOLD IT TO ME. I GO TO A FULL TIME JOB EVER MORNING AT 4 O CLOCK AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND I AM AFRAID OF IF SAPPING INTO AND MAKE ME WRECK PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266705October 7, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CLUSTER LIGHTS, BACK LIGHTING FOR CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS AND TAIL LIGHTS FLICKER THREE TIMES AND THEN GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS ANY TIME WHEN TURNING ON LIGHTS, WHETHER AT VEHICLE START-UP OR WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. MAKES FOR UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266869October 7, 2019
STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MUFFLER SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE SAME DAY AT THE TUNE OF $1,100 AT OWNERS EXPENSE FOR A RECALLED PART. *TR *DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE DEFECT. *TR *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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