Dodge Caliber Complaints

1,939 consumer complaints on file.

#10393564March 29, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE HAD ON GOING STEERING VIBRATION ISSUES WITH MY CALIBER SINCE 15K MILES AND MANY TIMES IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT NOTHING IS WRONG AND THE VIBRATION WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. MOST RECENTLY THE TIRES BEGAN EXCESSIVELY WEARING ON THE FRONT (2 REPLACEMENT SETS IN 6 MONTHS). EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC FOUND THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FAILING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN QUIETLY FAILING FOR ABOUT 30K-40K MILES. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 88K MILES ON IT AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE BEING REPLACED. DEALERSHIP ADMITS THAT 1,200 REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN SOLD BY DODGE IN THE LAST WEEK AND THE PART NUMBER HAS CHANGED 5 TIMES SINCE 2007. I FEEL THAT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT LEAD TO THIS ISSUED AND I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT FIND THIS "QUIET" FAILURE BEFORE IT LEADS TO AN ACCIDENT. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE TIRES WEARING I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOW IT AS THEY DID NOT BECOME NOISY LIKE MOST BALL JOINTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NO SIGNS OF ABUSE OR DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO THE BALL JOINTS AND THE RUBBER BOOT WAS COMPLETELY INTACT WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. FURTHER, THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS MODEL ARE NOT SERVICEABLE AND ARE SELF LUBRICATED. THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR BALL JOINTS ARE AT LEAST 100,000 MILE. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEEMED THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS BEFORE THIS 5-STAR RATED VEHICLE SERIOUSLY INJURES SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A CHRYSLER ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PROMPTLY ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393606March 29, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE SAME BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/23/11*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392379March 21, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM, OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392138March 18, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AT APPROXIMATELY 23,700 MILES, MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER RT HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS REPLACED (CHRYSLER REIMBURSED FOR THE RUINED FRONT TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON 9 MONTHS BEFORE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM). WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING LOSE IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AREA. UPON HAVING MY ANNUAL INSPECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAVE A BUSTED DRIVERS' SIDE STRUT. THERE IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THIS IS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS! I KEEP READING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DODGE/CHRSYLER IS GOING TO FIX VIA RECALL (OF COURSE, THE STRUTS STARTED MAKING THE NOISE WITHIN WEEKS OF COMING OUT OF MY BASIC 3 YR/36,000 MILE COVERAGE - I AM NOW INTO EXTENDED COVERAGE WITH A DEDUCTIBLE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390344March 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION INVOLVING ANOTHER UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES TO THE BODY AND A NECK INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL BODY DAMAGES AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR, WHO WAS REFERRED BY THE MANUFACTURER, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE DETECT AN ACCELERATION FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V234000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) HOWEVER, THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10389954March 13, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING ON FAST LANE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER TURNING RIGHT, ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT, COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, CAR STARTS JITTERING, CANNOT KEEP DRIVING IT AND HAVE TO PARK CAR ON THE SIDE ROAD HOPING THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389636March 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. AS THE CONTACT DECELERATED, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FRONT BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BUSHINGS, FRONT BEARING AND OTHER UNKNOWN REPAIRS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT NEVER REPAIRED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386701March 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386213March 2, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BANGING WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD AT SOME POINT, FAIL. THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT THEN FAILED JANUARY 11, 2011. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10387288March 1, 2011
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING THIER SAFETY BELTS AND BOTH WERE INJURED BY THE SAFETY BELTS WITH LARGE DEEP CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10384732February 28, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR, WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER 28 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR HUB BEARING, BECAUSE IT WAS WORN OUT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT AS WELL WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR BECAUSE OF THE REAR HUB FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07V196000 (WHEELS: CAPS/COVER/HUB) WAS RELATED AND COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,250.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384618February 26, 2011
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES, EQUIPMENT
I STARTED TO NOTICE A NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK END OF THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR TO CHRSYLER/DODGE DEALER & WAS TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING:REAR HUBS, THE RIGHT & LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS & REPLACE THE TIRES. WE HAD JUST BROUGHT NEW TIRES IN NOVEMBER 2010 FOR THE WINTER & NOW THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACE AGAIN.CHRYSLER IS PUTTING MY LIFE, MY HUSBAND & MOTHER'S LIFE LINE ON THE LINE. WHY IS IT THAT WHEN THEY HAD THE MAY 2007 RECALL,THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT INCLUDED AND WHY ARE THEY GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER BY PUTTING OUR LIVES IN JEOPARDY. I THOUGHT I PURCHASED A CAR THAT WOULD KEPT ME SAFE. THE ESTIMATED COST THEY QUOTED US $1800.00. CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD BE ASHAME OF THEMSELVES. IS PROFIT MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN OUR LIVES. THE CAR IS WORTHLESS & CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN EITHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383479February 21, 2011
STEERING
2008 DODGE CALIBER STEERING WHEEL ISSUE. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MY DODGE CALIBER SRT4 STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND MOVES FORWARD AND BACK CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS ABOUT A HALF INCH PLAY IN IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382907February 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONTAL CRASH. CAR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382710February 15, 2011
STRUCTURE
MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER HAS A WATER LEAK THAT ALLOWS RAIN WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE USED CAR DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM (HAD IT LESS THAN 1 YEAR) SAID IT WAS A GASKET LEAK IN THE FRONT FENDER. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RIGHT OR NOT BECAUSE THE CAR'S ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD HAS YET TO DRY OUT. VEHICLE CONSTANTLY ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN IDLE IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN PUSHING ON GAS FROM STOP. SOMETIMES THE LOW PRESSURE SENSOR OIL LIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND THE CAR WILL START TO JERK. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE JUST HESITATES FOR A LONG TIME WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. NEWEST ISSUE - WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL DOORS MYSTERIOUSLY UNLOCKED THEMSELVES. VERY FRUSTRATING AND INCONVENIENT... DEALER DOES NOT OFFER RENTAL OR TEMPORARY CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MY BRAND NEW CALIBER THAT IM PAYING FOR EVEN WHILE ITS IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALLING/OIL LIGHT ISSUE AND I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND STILL DID IT. TOOK IT BACK AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING EITHER. COMPUTER NOT REPORTING ANYTHING AND NO RECALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382642February 14, 2011
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER SXT (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING ROUTINE SERVICE DONE, THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN AND THE FRONT OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. NOW 20,000 MILES LATER AFTER HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED AGAIN, THE DEALER NOTICED THE FRONT INNER TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, WHICH WERE CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR FASTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381516February 11, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IN NOVEMBER OF 2008 MY LEFT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING SO I WENT TO HAVE THE BULB REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO POWER GOING TO THE OUTLET. SO I TOOL IT TO A SHOP TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEY STATED THAT THE RELAY FOR THE LIGHT IS BAD. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX THAT AFTER TWO YEARS I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO AFFORD. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THE WIRING SO IT WOULD BE AROUND $700.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381257February 9, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT DELAY IN ACCELERATION AND THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE QUICKLY. THE BRAKES ONLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN SLIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT WAS UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380218February 4, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT, THE FRONT AXLES AND, BALL JOINTS ON MY CAR ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER DODGE CALIBER OWNER'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380480February 2, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
2007 DODGE CALIBER. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS THAT HE BELIEVES THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOT CAPABLE OF ALIGNED DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BALL JOINTS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BALL JOINTS WERE DESIGNED WITH A SEALANT WITH NO CAPABLE MEANS TO LUBRICATE THEM AND REPAIR WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE REPLACE THEM WOULD COST $750. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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