Dodge Caliber Complaints (2008)

377 consumer complaints on file.

#10464358July 5, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
MY FIANCEE AND I GOT INTO THE CAR AND AFTER I STARTED IT, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND I HAD INTERNET ON MY PHONE SO I COULD LOOK UP HOW TO MANUALLY OVERRIDE THE ISSUE. IF THERE'S A MANUAL OVERRIDE, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY KNEW IT WOULD/COULD HAPPEN. MY FIANCEE IS DISABLED, IF SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR (IT IS HER CAR) AND GOT STUCK OUT IN THIS 100 DEGREE HEAT WAVE, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO OR HAVE EVEN BEEN ABLE TO DO IT HAD SHE KNOWN WHAT TO DO. I'M IRRITATED BECAUSE MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DODGE ISSUE AMONGST MANY DIFFERENT MODELS YET THEY HAVE ONLY ISSUED RECALLS ON CERTAIN MODELS. I DID CALL DODGE HQ TO FIND OUT IF THIS MODEL HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY IT HASN'T. THE DRONE JUST DID THEIR JOB OF GETTING THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED. I CAN'T STRESS THIS PART ENOUGH, IF THEY PROVIDE AN OVERRIDE, THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463587June 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. LOST POWER, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE BY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. UPDATED 08/06/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462809June 23, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
THE BALL JOINTS HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT ON OUR 2008 DODGE CALIBER. AT 40,000 MILES I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND THE BRAKE PADS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460621June 5, 2012
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE REAR TIE ROD AND STRUT HAVING DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE IGNITION ALSO FAILED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE REAR TIE ROD STRUT AND IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT CONTINUED EXHIBITING A NOISE FROM THE REAR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,176.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459986May 30, 2012
AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SITTING ON I-10 STOPPED WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER REAR ENDED ME. HIS SPEED WAS 40 MILES PER AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME FROM GETTING MY FACE CUT AND PREVENTED MY INJURY. I WISH THE BAGS WOULD HAVE WORKED. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE DODGE DEALER A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THE DRIVER FRONT BAG BURNING ME WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THEN THE BLUNT FORCE TO MY FACE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10458876May 17, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM GANLEY DODGE IN BEDFORD OHIO. WE HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE APROX 12000 MILES AND HAVE REPLACED OR SERVICED THE REAR BRAKES SIX TIMES AT TWO SEPARATE DEALERS. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE MADE A HOWLING NOISE SINCE THE DAY IT LEFT THE LOT. CHRYSLER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM SIX TIMES TO NO AVAIL. BOTH DEALERS THAT HAVE SERVICED THE CALIBER SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY ALSO SAY IT IS COSMETIC. AFTER DEALING WITH THE DEALERS NONSENSE I CALLED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY, AFTER A WEEK OF DEALING WITH THEM THEY FINALLY CALL ME BACK TO TELL ME THAT AN ENGINEER HAS STATED THAT REAR BRAKES MAKING NOISE IS A NORMAL THING FOR THIS CAR TO DO. AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SUPPOSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ALLOW AND AMERICAN CAR COMPANY TO BE OWNED BY AN ITALIAN AND GERMAN COMPANIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458569May 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 DODGE CALIBER STOPPED ACCELERATING NORMALLY IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AT ABOUT 43,000 MILES (AND ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT FROM A MAZDA DEALERSHIP). I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS WHO ALL SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP, BUT HAD HEARD OF MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT ABOUT $4000). THIS DIAGNOSIS SEEMS TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE THROTTLE ISSUE THAT I'VE READ ABOUT ONLINE. I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT HURT THE POWERTRAIN FURTHER TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT, SO THE CAR IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY AS A NON-OP. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW DODGE IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, WHEN SO MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EXIST (MOST OF WHICH ARE WITHIN THE WARRANTY). *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458458May 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH MY CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 10-15 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES, WHEN I FINALLY FOUND A PLACE THAT I COULD LEAVE THE CAR IT WAS ONLY IDLING. UPON TAKING IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER WAS TOLD IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $500 TO FIX THAT THE THROTTLE BODY DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO DO. I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AS THE WARRANTY DOES NOT EXCLUDE IT AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH BOTH THE 2007 AND 2008 THROTTLE BODY GOING OUT. THIS IS REDICULOUS THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERING IT UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE SAFELY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING KILLED BECAUSE THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSE POWER AND GET HIT. IF THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS TYPE OF WARRANTY THEN THEY SHOULD COVER IT AND IF IT IS NOT COVERED THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO LIST IT AS A NON COVERED ITEM AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE INFORMED WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. POWER TRAIN....THROTTLE BODY.....WITHOUT THE THROTTLE BODY YOU HAVE NO POWER. SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE TO ME.. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454980April 12, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
WE PARKED OUR 2008 DODGE CALIPER FOR THREE DAYS AND WHEN WE DROVE NEXT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE HEAD LIGHTS AT ALL, THE AUXILIARY DRIVING LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, THE WIND SHIED WIPERS WILL NOT WORK (FRONT OR BACK) THE WIND SHIELD WASHER WILL NOT WORK. THE HEAD LIGHTS DO COME ON AUTOMATIC WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE AND THEN THEY STAY ON UNTIL YOU TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND FLASH BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVER'S COLUMN THAT WILL WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF LIGHTING CAPABILITY, THE WIND SHIELD WASHERS NOT WORKING. I HAVE GOGGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON THE DODGE AVENGER AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ENTRIES OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING ON THE DODGE CALIPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453963April 3, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448273February 16, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL FAILED ON THIS 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ITEM ON THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER. DODGE SHOULD NOW MAKE THIS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL A RECALL ITEM FOR THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444873January 23, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ETC WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON AN INTERMITTENTL BASIS. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AMOUNT OF POWER AND THE ROAD PERFORMANCE WAS EXTREMELY POOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443138January 9, 2012
WHEELS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES
I HAVE 2 2008 VEHICLES THE FIRST ONE IS A DODGE AVENGER AND THE 2ND ONE IS A CALIBER. I BOUGHT BOTH OF THESE CARS FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP NEW. I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS IN ALL THE TIRES. THEY ARE CORRODING CAUSING THE TIRE PRESSURE TO DROP, ARE THEY ANY CURRENT ISSUES OR RECALLS ON THESE TYPE OF DEVICES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442851January 8, 2012
SUSPENSION
BOTH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION-STRUTS/SHOCKS LEAKING AND BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED-MECHANIC STATED THEY HAVE REPLACED SO MANY SUSPENSIONS ON THESE VEHICLES, THEY CANT KEEP PARTS INSTOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438886December 7, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT STEEL WAS SHOWING THROUGH BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, WHICH HAS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435040November 9, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATELY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS WEARING RAPIDLY AND THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS STILL HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434310November 5, 2011
SUSPENSION
THERE IS A SERIOUS GROWLING ROAD NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL BEARINGS. IF YOU CHECK "CAR FORUMS AND AUTOMOTIVE CHAT" THERE IS A FIX UNDER CHAT LABELED "STWSTI" DATE 10-19-2008... I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR DODGE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES OR AT LEAST TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM OF BEARING FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427665September 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD COME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION FOR A RED LIGHT. GREEN LIGHT MAKING LEFT HAND TURN, CAR STALLED OUT IN INTERSECTION, ABLE TO RESTART CAR. I AM AT 89K NOW EVER SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RANDOMLY STALLING OUT AT STOPS. I KEEP UP WITH MY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AROUND THE INTERNET. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND CORRECTED. THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE PREVENTED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424604September 10, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE OPERATING THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.0L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, THE CAR INSTANTLY STOPPED WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEN THE CAR WOULD GO FROM 7MPH TO 50MPH IN A RAPID ACCELERATION AND THEN BACK DOWN TO 7MPH. THIS WAS RATHER DANGEROUS AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES DESPITE HAVING MY EMERGENCY SIGNAL FLASHING LIGHTS ON AS WELL AS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE. THE CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BACK FIRING AND ONE LOUD EXPLOSION SOUNDED AS IF IT OCCURRED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND AN AUTO PARTS STORE LAST NIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE TECH THERE USE THE ODBII READER AND IT INDICATED THE ERROR P0132 WHICH IS THE OXYGEN SENSOR AS THE FAILING UNIT. THE FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE DODGE CALIBER WAS ALMOST IMPACTED BY OTHER CARS IN TRAFFIC AS THE OTHER CARS WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THE DODGE CALIBER TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE FROM 45MPH TO 7MPH. THE PART WAS REPLACED ASAP THE NEXT DAY WITH BOSCH PART # 15124 AND UPON TESTING FOR 20 MINUTES THE CAR OPERATED WITHOUT ERROR. I CALLED DODGE TO INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL OR WARRANTY WORK AND THEY DECLINED BOTH. IN REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY, I REQUEST THAT A CASE BE OPENED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND OTHERS LIKE IT. THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS TO HAVE DODGE RECALL THE O2 SENSORS AS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE CAN BE CATASTROPHIC WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS WITH TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424542September 9, 2011
WHEELS, TIRES
2008 DODGE CALIBER SXT: BOUGHT THE CAR FROM DEALER IN MOREHEAD CITY, NC. AFTER 24K MILES HAD TO REPLACE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY WORN. WHEN TIRES WERE REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET THE SERVICE DEPT FAILED TO DO AN ALIGNMENT. NOW 19K MILES LATER MY TIRES BRIDGESTONE TURANZA'S P215/60R17 ARE ALREADY WORN OUT AGAIN. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AIR PRESSURE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT TO WEAR AND ALSO MY INNER TIRE RODS WERE ALREADY WORN. I TOLD THEM I HAD SEEN COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THE 2008 CALIBER WAS HAVING PREMATURE WEARING OF TIRE RODS AND THEY CLAIMED THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS. OF COURSE NOW THAT MY CAR IS AT 43K MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT, I HAVE TO. ALSO, THE FACT THEY MISSED DOING AN ALIGNMENT THE FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT FIND THE TIE ROD WEARING PREMATURE BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP OR EITHER THEY DID KNOW IT AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME. I DON'T TRUST THE DEALER OR THEIR SERVICE TEAM NOW BECAUSE THEY MISSED DOING AN ALIGNMENT, THEY MISSED A ROTATION WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO, THEY MISSED FINDING THE PREMATURE WEARING OF TIE RODS. THESE ARE DANGEROUS ISSUES WHEN YOU ARE OUT DRIVING ON THE ROAD NOW I WONDER EVERY TIME I GET OUT THERE ARE MY TIRES GOING TO BLOW OR ARE MY TIE RODS GOING TO BREAK. SHAME ON THE DEALERSHIP AND SHAME ON BRIDGESTONE FOR NOT WANTING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE, LOSS OF LIFE. THE ONLY THING THE DEALERSHIP WILL OFFER TO DO IS PAY FOR 2 TIRES AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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