Dodge Caliber Complaints (2009)

232 consumer complaints on file.

#10458111May 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS USED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING LABEL ON THE VEHICLE STATING WHICH TYPE OR BRAND OF TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD TO BE USED IN THE VEHICLE, NOR WAS THERE A DIP STICK TO CHECK THE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A CODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH READ P0218 MEANT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. UPDATED 08/16/15
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458024May 10, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 50-60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EIGHTEEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,908 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,653.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456390April 24, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE CAR STARTED HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. STALLING PROBLEMS ARE MORE COMMON DURING RAINY PERIODS BUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MOST INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE CAR IS ON IDLE, NO MOVEMENT, IN THE HIGHWAY OR AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR WILL VIBRATE AND IMMEDIATELY STALL OR TRY TO. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO REASON FOR THE STALLING HAS BEEN FOUND; CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO RECALL NOTICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE DODGE PERSONALIZE WEBSITE. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT AT THE MILITARY EXCHANGE NEW CAR SALES IN PUERTO RICO BUT APPARENTLY WAS RELOCATE FROM OCONUS EUROPE AND I AM NO SURE HOW POSSIBLE RECALLS WILL APPLY TO THIS CAR. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V528000 BUT I DO NOT NOW IF IT APPLIES TO THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448390February 18, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I BOUGHT MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER BRAND NEW IN JULY 2009. I MADE MY DECISION BASED ON THE 5-YR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, ASSUMING THE CAR MUST BE MECHANICALLY DEPENDABLE. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS WRONG FOR MAKING THAT ASSUMPTION. I BEGAN TO HAVE SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. I REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES, HAD A TUNE-UP AT 65,000 MILES AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AFTER THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAD OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO SEE IF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER A REPAIR FOR MY CAR TO RUN. SINCE THIS CAR WAS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AND LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ATTEMPT REPAIRS WITH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENTS JUST TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO PAY MY MORTGAGE AND CAR NOTE. THOSE REPAIRS SEEM TO WORK AT FIRST UNTIL 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT, WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND I MANAGED TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS TURNING DARK AND MY HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED. I WAS ON SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE IN DARK FREEZING WEATHER FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE A CO-WORKER COULD FIND ME TO HELP ME TO SAFETY. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE FINANCE COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447783February 13, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPRING IN THE DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND SEPARATED FROM THE DOOR HINGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447062February 7, 2012
WHEELS, TIRES:VALVE
3 OUT OF 4 VALVE STEM'S HAD TO BE REPLACE ON MY CAR DUE TO MATERIAL DEFECT...CONTACTED DODGE DUE TO PRODUCT FAILURE TO SEE IF THIS HAD BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY DAUGHTERS 2009 DODGE AVENGER LAST JULY 2011. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436811November 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR DECELERATE AND TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT WAS ON AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS OVER HEATING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALER. CALLED DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN (MY COST). DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN #. DIAGNOSTIC SAID NOTHING WRONG. CALLED DODGE AGAIN THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER 50 MILES AWAY. IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER +100 TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN BACKSEAT CAR SEATS. I WAS ON I-95 GOING TOWARDS WASHINGTON DC IN RUSH HOUR. IF I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY A SEMI AND MY GRANDKIDS KILLED. DODGE DOES NOT CARE. I AM DISAPPOINTED AS I ALSO OWN A NEON AND RAM TRUCK. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422850September 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A HUMMING NOISE ALSO EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER THAT OPERATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,799 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422593August 30, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 43,000 MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER'S CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WON'T FIX IT, CALLED CHRYSLER IN MAY, 2010, WAS TOLD THAT THEY WON'T FIX IT. WAS TOLD THAT THE BEARINGS ARE BAD. NOT FIXABLE, ONLY REPLACEABLE. COST $4,200. THERE IS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER RECALL REGARDING A POWER TRAIN MODULE, CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T EXIST. I PRINTED OUT THE RECALL FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THEY STILL TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. AFTER REPEATEDLY SENDING EMAILS AND CALLING CHRYSLER, THEY FINALLY CAME TO THE DEALER A YEAR LATER, DROVE MY CAR AND SAID, YES, TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT, IT IS OVER THE 3 YR 36,000, ?IT IS NOT WORTH PUTTING THE MONEY INTO IT?, LIKE WHAT????? THEY WON'T FIX IT. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO KIDS, 20YR CHRYSLER CUSTOMER AND THIS IS HOW I AM TREATED. ON 8/19/2011, TRANSMISSION DIED. IT IS NOW AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP, TRANSMISSION ON THE GROUND, CAN'T BE FIXED, ONLY REPLACED: COST $4,000. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY, I EITHER PAY FOR MY HOUSE OR MY CAR, CAN'T DO BOTH, AND MY CHILDREN CAN'T LIVE IN THE CAR, SO I DECIDED TO MAKE HOUSE PAYMENTS. I WILL CONTACT THE MICHIGAN STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REGARDING THIS CVT TRANSMISSION THAT IS NOT REPAIRABLE, ONLY REPLACEABLE AT A COST OF $4,000. I DO NOT HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE, DO NOT HAVE $4,000. HOW CAN THEY PUT A MAJOR - EXPENSIVE PART INTO A CAR, WHEN THIS PART IS NOT FIXABLE, ONLY REPLACEABLE? PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419358August 14, 2011
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF MY SENSORED VALVE STEMS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PUTTING AIR INTO THE TIRE. THE FIRST 2 I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SENSOR REPLACED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, THE LAST ONE I HAD TO GO TO 4 DIFFERENT PLACES TO SEE IF THEY HAD ONE, WAITED FOR 2 DAYS TO ACTUALLY GET THE PART AND THEN HAVE IT PUT IT IN. THE MANAGER AT THE STORE SAID IN THE LAST MONTH HE HAS HAD MANY VEHICLES COMING IN TO HAVE THESE REPLACED AS THEY WERE BROKEN, ESPECIALLY CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP PRODUCTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417012August 4, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVING REPAIRS FOR STATE INSPECTION WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN PREMATURELY AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. DEALER REFUSED TO DO WORK. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD CAR FIXED. UPDATED 09/07/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414832July 23, 2011
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE TPMS BROKE - FILED BY JIFFY LUBE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397292April 25, 2011
STEERING
THE ABS SENSORS IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRE WELLS ARE SUDDENLY BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) TO NOT WORK PROPERLY; SENDING THE CAR INTO A SKID. ESC IS TO ASSIST DRIVERS IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES DURING EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS. ESC SENSES WHEN A VEHICLE IS STARTING TO SPIN (OVERSTEER) OR PLOW (UNDERSTEER), AND ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE?S COURSE BY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE THROTTLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AT INDIVIDUAL WHEELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375139January 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2009 DODGE CALIBER RT WITH ODO READING 59,300 & MY TRANSMISSION LINE BURST CAUSING $450 IN NEEDED REPAIR THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371009December 17, 2010
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. AFTER INSPECTING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SINGLE BOLT THAT ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM ARM WHICH HAD LOOSENED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO MOVE OUTWARD. THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL PULLED THE DRIVESHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370982December 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION NOISE LOUD AND SLIPPING I HAVE ANOTHER 09 DODGE CALIBER MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND VERY SLOW TO MAKE IT UP TO SPEED FROM A STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367905November 26, 2010
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO FALL INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER BODY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE UNLATCHED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10364056November 4, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
09/2009 VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TOWED TO DEALER, SUGGESTED CAR HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND FIXED. 08/16/2010 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS JERKING BEFORE IT DIED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TOWED TO DEALER SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND FIXED. 09/14/2010 VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, WHEN STARTED DROVE 5 MILES AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, TOWED BACK TO DEALER SUGGESTED COOLANT WAS LEAKING ON THE RADIATOR AND BATTERY WAS BAD AND FIXED. 09/20/2010 ENGINE, THROTTLE AND ENGINE TEMP LIGHT ON VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TOWED BACK TO DEALER SUGGESTING HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND FIXED. 10/21/2010 ENGINE TEMP RUNS HOT, OVERHEATS, MAKES TUGGING SOUNDS AND JERKS WHILE DRIVING, DROVE BACK TO DEALER SUGGESTING THERMOSTATS NOT OPENING FULLY REPLACED AND STATES THE CAR WAS SOLD WITH A BAD ENGINE. 11/04/2010 CAR RETURNED TO DEALER DUE TO JERKING, ENGINE LIGHT ON, MAKING TUGGING SOUNDS AS YOU ACCELERATE, WINDING DOWN SOUNDS WHEN YOU BREAK AND OVERHEATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356863September 21, 2010
SUSPENSION
2009 DODGE CALIBER HAS NO ADJUSTMENTS FOR REAR CAMBER AND REQUIRES AN AFTER-MARKET BOLT INSTALLATION FOR FRONT. MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER [XXX], HAS EATEN THE INSIDE EDGES OFF ALL 4 TIRES (SCOOPED) THIS WAS WRITTEN OFF AS TIRE WEAR-OK ON EACH CHRYSLER SERVICE. I NOTICED THAT THE INSIDES OF THE TIRES WERE SCOOPED OUT WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED OUT WHEN I PARKED RECENTLY. ESSENTIALLY, YOU AS THE OWNER GET TO REPLACE FOUR TIRES EVERY 24,000 MILES AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SOLID REPAIR. MY CAR HAS 17,425 MILES AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ESSENTIALLY HAS NO REPAIR. THE BOLT THE INSTALLED IN THE R FRONT ALLOWS FOR A + OR - 1 DEGREE ADJUSTMENT. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OWNER DOESN'T FIND THE PROBLEM? BLOWOUTS AND CRASHES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342393July 10, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (AT HIGH SPEED) WHEN IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR ME TO PUNCH THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE. WHEN I DID THIS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE OFF JUST BELOW THE SPRING-ACTION PIVOT POINT AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME USELESS BECAUSE THE SPRING (WHICH IS WIRED TO THE ENGINE'S ACCELERATOR AND RECEIVES ACCELERATION INPUT FROM THE PEDAL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED) WAS NO LONGER (OBVIOUSLY) ATTACHED TO THE PEDAL. I WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF TRAFFIC DESPITE HAVING NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AT THAT POINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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