Dodge Caliber Complaints (2009)

232 consumer complaints on file.

#10917812October 21, 2016
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER STARTED EMITTING SOME TERRIBLE SOUNDS WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN THE CITY YESTERDAY (10/20/2016). THIS OCCURRED WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING OVER ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH ROAD. STEERING AND BRAKING WERE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED. AFTER STOPPING I LIFTED IT UP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER STABILIZER BAR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE BOLTS HADN'T SIMPLY COME LOOSE; THE SECTION OF THE SUBFRAME TO WHICH THE STABILIZER BAR ATTACHES HAD TORN AWAY. THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR YET I CAN BASICALLY POKE HOLES THROUGH THE SUBFRAME WITH MY FINGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10917841October 21, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,150.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916846October 18, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE RIGHT FRONT COLLAPSED FORCING ME OFF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAY, PASSING ANOTHER CAR OR AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE FRONT FRAME HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND COLLAPSED THE SUSPENSION. IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THE FRAME IS POORLY DESIGNED OR CONSTRUCTED. POSSIBLY BOTH. AT ANY RATE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I NOTIFIED CHRYSLER IN JULY AND OTHER THAN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. KINDLY ADVISE ME IF THERE IS ANY ACTION THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN TAKE. SINCERELY, [XXX] 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
#10905575September 11, 2016
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, SUSPENSION
THIS CAR ATTEMPTED TO KILL ME TWICE. FIRST THE SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT DUE TO BAD DESIGN. WE NOTICED THIS AS THE STRUTS WERE BEING REPLACED - ALSO BECAUSE OF BAD DESIGN. THIS WAS NOTICED IN 2014 (ON A 2009 VEHICLE!) COST ME OVER $1,000 TO FIX - DODGE OFFERED NO HELP AT ALL. LATER IN 2014 - THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ARM SEPARATED FROM WHEEL, CAUSING WHEEL TO POP OFF. IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER THAN THE 10 MPH I WAS GOING (HEADED TO HIGHWAY!), I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AGAIN CONTACTED DODGE AND NO ASSISTANCE. THEY RECALLED THE 2007 BUT NOT THIS MODEL YEAR FOR THESE PROBLEMS. PICTURES ATTACHED. I HOPE SOMEONE HOLDS THIS COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE! CARS SHOULD NOT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR IN YEAR 5!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904770September 8, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V528000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898200August 24, 2016
SUSPENSION
THE CROSS MEMBER/CRADLE/MODULE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN ONE SECTION AND SEVERE RUST/CORROSION ON MOST OF PART. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN FOR ROUTINE REPAIR WHEN INFORMED VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ISSUE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897952August 23, 2016
SUSPENSION
CUSTOMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR PA STATE INSPECTION. AND FRONT CROSS-MEMBER IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS 101,000 MILES ON IT, AND NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER THINKS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER 2007 - 2009 VEHICLES, BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM ON ALL THESE MODELS. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895991August 15, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE FROM 60 TO 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITH NO ISSUES FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGONOISED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER VERIFIED THE DIAGNOSIS. THE PCM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895894August 15, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. A YEAR AGO, THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A WEEK AGO AND A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS PREMATURELY RUSTED EXTENSIVELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN THREE TIMES, BUT PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ..UPDATED 11/21/16 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10893077August 4, 2016
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREMATURE CORROSION ON THE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10893087August 4, 2016
SUSPENSION
SUMMARY: THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THINKING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC STATES THE THE FLUID NEDEDED CHANGED AND FOUND A FRONT CROSSMEMBER OF THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED APART NEXT TO THE SWAY BAR. THE 2007 MODEL HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO EXTEND IT 10 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CROSSMEMBER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO DO THIS WITH THE 2009 MODEL. OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED WITH SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS AND IS ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE TO THINK A VEHICLE THAT IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH NO OTHER RUST, SHOULD HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10892201August 1, 2016
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO WORK NOTICED A SEVERE CHANGE TO THE STEERING. IT CAUSE HIM TO VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE AND LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT ONTO WORK AND CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING JUST 10 FEET IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS UN-DRIVABLE AND UNSAFE. AFTER CALLING THE TOWING SERVICE THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CALL DODGE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY TOWED OTHER DODGES OF SIMILAR YEARS WITH A RUSTED/ BROKEN SUB FRAMES. CALL LOCAL DEALER WITH THE VIN AND ASK TO IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS FOR A BROKEN SUB FRAME. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND DID NOT OFFER TO MAKE A REPAIR EVEN AT MY COST. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHO HAD SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE ON OTHER DODGES AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE REPAIR. AFTER $600 FOR THE PART AND $600 FOR LABOR THE REPAIR WAS MADE ON A CAR WITH 89,000 MILES. WHILE THE CAR WAS GETTING REPAIRED I WAS ABLE TO TELL A CO-WORKER ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON HER 2007 CALIBER WHICH I DISCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HERS REPAIRED WITH NO CHARGE. CONTACTED DODGE AND SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AT THIS POINT. THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS PROBLEM SO I GUESS THAT MEANS DODGE STANDS FOR DODGE RESPONSIBILITY AT THE COST OF THE CONSUMER. I NOT BE PURCHASING ANY MOPAR PRODUCTS IN THE FUTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885614July 18, 2016
SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THINKING THERE WAS A BRAKE ISSUE AS THERE WAS A CLUNKING AND SHAKING WHILE BRAKING AND TURNING. MECHANIC STATES THE BRAKES ARE FINE AND FOUND A FRONT CROSSMEMBER OF THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED APART NEXT TO THE SWAY BAR. THE 2007 MODEL HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO EXTEND IT 10 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CROSSMEMBER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO DO THIS WITH THE 2009 MODEL. OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED WITH SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS AND IS ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE TO THINK A VEHICLE THAT IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH NO OTHER RUST, SHOULD HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885166July 15, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BROKEN SPRING ON MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHERE I FOUND OUT MY ENGINE CRADLE IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES. I DRIVE 30 MILES TO WORK ON A MAJOR FREEWAY, DOING 70 - 80 MPH 5-7 DAYS A WEEK. IF THIS ENGINE CRADLE HAD BROKE COMPLETELY DURING MY COMMUTE, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED OR FLIPPED MY CAR!! THIS IS BEYOND A SAFETY CONCERN. I RECENTLY GOT RID OF A 1998 VEHICLE THAT DIDNT HAVE EVEN 1/10TH THIS AMOUND OF RUST ON ITS FRAME. I UNDERCARRIAGE FLUSH-CARWASH MY CAR EVERY WEEK MINIMUM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO AVOID LONGTERM SALT EXPOSURE. AND MY CAR IS GARAGE PARKED ALL THE TIME AT HOME. I TRANSPORT MY SMALL CHILDREN IN THIS CAR, AND AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING FINDING A LAWYER FOR A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS MATTER. THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT BE THIS ROTTED!!!! I
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874440June 15, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
ON MAY 7TH, 2016 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR STALLED AND NO MATTER WHAT I DID, PRESSING, PUMPING, OR MASHING, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. NOW, MY CAR HAS DONE THIS IN THE PAST USUALLY RIGHT AS I AM COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED THE CAR, I CASUALLY TOLD THE SERVICE WRITER AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID NOT TO USE CHEAP GAS. I TOLD THEM THAT I USE GAS FROM SHELL, NOT CHEAP GAS. THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, I WOULD MENTION IT AGAIN, BEING TOLD ABOUT USING CHEAP GAS. WHICH AGAIN, I TOLD THEM I DON'T USE CHEAP GAS IN MY CAR. I BELIEVE MY ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE ISSUE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V528000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10871240May 27, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION NOTICED ON THE FRONT AND REAR SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10864693May 12, 2016
SUSPENSION
RUSTED FRONT SUBFRAME RESULTING IN STEERING VIBRATION AND TIRE RUBBING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. UNSTABLE RIDE DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING OF SUBFRAME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10864454May 11, 2016
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CROSS MEMBERS WERE ROTTED AND THE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBERS WERE ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COMMON. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862840May 3, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART ONLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10861550April 26, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CREAKING SOUND. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN CROSS MEMBER WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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