Dodge Caliber Complaints

1,939 consumer complaints on file.

#10584795April 25, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE LIGHT ALONG WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SEEMED NOT TO FUNCTION AS I HAD TO MUSCLE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND TRAFFIC WAS AT A MINIMUM. THE CAR SPUTTERED SO BAD IT SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD AFTER I PULLED OVER. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I STARTED THE CAR AND LIMPED IT HOME. COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO DO MORE THAN 10MPH. USED MY FLASHERS THE ENTIRE WAY HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584571April 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WATER GOT INTO TAIL LIGHT, FROZE AND MADE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584213April 22, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DROVE HOME FROM WORK PARKED MY CAR NEXT MORNING IT WOULDN'T START. HAD BATTERY POWER AND CRANKED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY BUT WOULD NOT KICK OVER TO START. TOWED TO MECHANIC. HE SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, HE CLEANED THE SPARK PLUGS, WEATHER WARMED UP AND CAR WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, HE STATED I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED (THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR TYPE) TWO DAYS LATER, DRIVING TO WORK ALL THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE STEERING FROZE, NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND PARK CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT NOW HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583308April 17, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER
IR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2013. NEW A/C COMPRESSOR INSTALLED, BUT A/C CLUTCH FELL OFF FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE, (WHICH ONE WAS NOT REFERENCED) THERE ARE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE A/C COOLANT LINES AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACEMENT. SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE DEFROST DUE TO THIS AND IT IS THE SNOWIEST TIME OF THE YEAR. DODGE WILL NOT REPLACE, AS VEHICLE AND PART ARE NOW BOTH OUT OF WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT PART ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12 MONTHS, BUT HAVE NOT HAD TO ENGAGE EITHER DEFROST OR A/C IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN THE REPLACEMENT FAILED AND THE CLUTCH BROKE OFF. USING THE DEFROST COULD RESULT IN THE UNIT OVERHEATING, CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE OR OTHER FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583090April 16, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DROVE HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT, PARKED MY CAR WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T KICK OVER. HAD BATTERY POWER AND IT CRANKED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY BUT WOULD KICK OVER TO START. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579324April 12, 2014
AIR BAGS, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FIRST SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WERE A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, AND I DID NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL DECEMBER, WHEN A PORTION OF A STRAP WITH ELECTRICAL WIRE EMBEDDED BEGAN TO PROTRUDE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN. IT SOON BEGAN TO BE A NUISANCE AS THE PORTION GREW LONGER AND WOULD CATCH ON THE STEERING POSITION ADJUSTMENT KNOB. I GREW ALARMED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS A BROKEN CLOCKSPRING, AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. IT COST ME OVER $300 TO GET THIS REPAIRED, AND NOW I SEE TOYOTA IS DOING A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING, A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY THAT BECOMES DAMAGED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS A POOR DESIGN. TOYOTA IS REPLACING THIS WITH A BETTER PART, BUT I DO NOT THINK DODGE DID THAT, AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET THIS REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AND BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY DODGE ALSO. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579167April 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579182April 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DODGE HAS BEEN STALLING AT RED LIGHTS FOR THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE NOR CAN THEY FIND A CODE ON THE COMPUTER SCAN. THEY DO HOWEVER, RECOMMEND FLUSHES ETC. THE ISSUE HAS NOT GONE AWAY. IF I AM AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE AC ON (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), IT WILL IDLE VERY LOUD AND ROUGH AND THE TACHOMETER WILL BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. IT WILL ALSO STALL OUT AT TIMES WHEN I MOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BREAK TO THE GAS. IF I TURN THE AC OFF IT WILL KEEP IT FROM IDLING ROUGH AND STALLING. I ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WHEN I START MY CAR UP, PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE; THAT I ALL ELECTRICAL POWER FOR 10 SECONDS. THE RADIO TURNS OFF, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER DASH BOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN THE ELECTRICAL POWER WILL COME BACK ON. IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE CAR IS RESETTING ITS SELF; I DO NOT LOSE MY RADIO PRESETS HOWEVER. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578666April 9, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING IN SPITE OF THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION. THERE WAS A RECALL PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2010 TO PREVENT A STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT APPARENTLY THE SAME ISSUE THE RECALL WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT STILL EXISTS TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578173April 8, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR LOOSES POWER BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF DEALER STATES IT'S NOTHING GET OIL CHANGE FROM DEALER STATED NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577109April 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576225April 1, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICE WHERE EVER MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OR MORE, WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDING/RUBBING WHEREAS IT VIBRATES THE CAR. NOW YOU MAY SAY THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORN BUT THEY'RE NOT. I'VE HAD THEM INSPECTED AND THE PADS ARE GOOD. I'VE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DODGE CO AND WAS GIVEN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'VE ASK A COUPLEOF DODGE CALIBER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS PERSON HAD HIGH MILEAGE ON THEIR VEHICLE, EVEN A MECHANIC WHO WORKS FOR DODGE SAID HE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IF YOU ASK MY OPINION, I WOULD SAY THAT THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. NOT ONLY WHEN ITS COLD BUT ALSO WHEN IT RAINS. I'M WRITING TO SEE IF YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE DODGE CALIBERS AND JEEPS FROM THE YEAR 2006 - 2012. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I AWAIT YOUR REPLY,[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
#10575403March 28, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575099March 27, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING AT 35 MPH, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND LIGHTNING SYMBOL APPEARED ON DASH. DROVE IT HOME ON SIDE STREETS AT VERY LOW SPEED (WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10-15 MPH) PUT A CODE READER ON THE CAR AND CAME UP WITH CODE P2119. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD RESULT IN A FATALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575194March 27, 2014
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I WAS TOLD BY MEINEKE THAT MY ENGINE'S SUBFRAME WAS SO CORRODED THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THIS YOUNG TO HAVE A CORRODED SUBFRAME. I LEARNED FROM ONLINE RESEARCH THAT CORRODED SUBFRAMES ARE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT WITH DODGE CALIBERS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THERE WAS NO RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE SUBFRAME AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574817March 25, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 55 BACK TO PEORIA,IL . CAR INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHING AND SURGING. SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. CAR DIED, LUCKY GOT TO SHOULDER OF FREEWAY. HAD IT TOWED FROM PONTIAC, IL. TO FIRESTONE IN PEORIA,IL. *TR DIAGNOSIS, HOLE IN A/C COMPRESSOR (POSSIBLE PISTONS BLEW THROUGH CASING), SHORTED STARTER, FRIED BATTERY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574405March 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, WHEELS
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 8:15PM. ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH, 2014. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO ONE OF THE STREETS THE LEADS ME TO MY HOME AS I ALWAYS DO. AS I AM MAKING THE LEFT TURN I FELT MY STEERING WHEEL LOSING CONTROL AS I AM TURNING AND THE CAR SHIFTING TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD ONTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM GOING INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR TO MY RIGHT AND I CAN SEE ON MY DASH BOARD OF THE CAR THAT MY SKID LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF TRYING TO STABILIZE THE CAR BUT NO SUCCESS AT THIS TIME I AM NOT GETTING MUCH COOPERATION FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AND TO AVOID THE PARKED CARS ON MY RIGHT AS I AM PRESSING THE BREAK THE CAR OR RIGHT WHEEL OF THE CAR MADE A HARD IMPACT WITH THE CURB OF THE SIDE WALK. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND I GET OUT TO ACCESS THE DAMAGES AND THERE WAS NO VISUAL BODY DAMAGE AT THE TIME. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR HOME WHICH WAS JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE TO DISCOVER THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY IT WAS LIKE IT WAS DOING 360 TURNS AND THE LEFT WHEEL OF THE CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE WEATHER WAS BREAKING I WAS ABLE TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY, TOW TRUCK AND MECHANIC TO ASSIST WITH THE DAMAGES. THE DAMAGES WHERE ALIGNMENT FRONT WHEELS, STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, RIGHT FOG LIGHT, RIGHT WHEEL, BUMPER OVER AND BUMPER SPLASH GUARD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10574166March 22, 2014
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION
CAR STARTED FALLING APART AT AROUND 48K TIE RODS. CONTROL ARMS. STRUTS. BUSHINGS. BALL JOINTS. BEARINGS. SWAY BAR LINKS. LATERAL ARM BUSHINGS. UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. UPPER TOW LINKS. FRONT STRUT MOUNTS. MY LATEST REPAIR BILL (TODAY) IS 1500.00 AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 60K ON IT. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ALSO SLATED FOR REPLACEMENT AS SOON AS THE DEALER GETS IT IN. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER AND ALWAYS KEEP MY CAR SERVICED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. THE SUSPENSION ON THIS CAR IS A MENACE. THE BLOWER MOTOR ALSO WENT AT 48K (A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY NORTHERN MN WINTERS) AND THE REAR DEFROSTER ONLY HAS TWO OR THREE LINES THAT WORK. THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS ALSO LOSING FLUID AND I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED AS WELL. I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE A PRINT OUT FROM FIRESTONE AUTO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574023March 21, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION
MARCH 12, 2014 MY MILEAGE WAS 56700 MILES I HAD TO HAVE MY LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD BOTH FAILED. THE LAST ISSUE I HAD WITH STEERING & SUSPENSION WAS IN MARCH 2012. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE DIAGNOSIS BY THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WAS 34,898 AND I NEEDED TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS TO THE NHTSA/ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING BOTH THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS OF THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS ARE KNOWN TO DODGE TO BE COMMON FAILING PARTS ON THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHEN I REPLACED THE TIE ROD ON 2012 I DID NOTIFY DODGE DIRECTLY, MY VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT THAT TIME AND DODGE CLOSED MY CASE AND I WAS BRUSHED OFF. DODGE STOPPED REPLYING TO MY EMAILS AND WOULD NOT RETURN MY VOICEMAILS. I HAVE FOUND NO FATALITIES IN MY RESEARCH SO FAR, BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WITH THIS VEHICLE DESIGN. HOW MANY REPORTS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION IS LAUNCHED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572913March 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE YESTERDAY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE CAR GO INTO A "LIMP" MODE (VERY LITTLE POWER), AND EVEN AT FULL PEDAL, IT SLOWLY SLOWS DOWN. HAVING HAD IT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, I LEARNED TO PULL OVER, AND SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES TIMES THIS IS NOT EASY, OR SAFE TO DO. THEN IT IS HARD TO RESTART, BUT WILL DRIVE SOMEWHAT BETTER. THIS ALLOWS ME TO GET TO A PLACE THAT I CAN SHUT IT OFF FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME (1/2 HOUR), AND THEN IT RUNS MORE LIKE NORMAL, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT, IT IS RUNNING NORMAL AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. SO FAR, THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'M SURE SOMEBODY WILL BE HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THIS GETS RECALLED. GOOD LUCK FOLLOW DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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