2007 Dodge Caliber AWD engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,227.

NHTSA complaint #11088540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED FIVE YEARS AGO BY SALT LAKE VALLEY DODGE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA complaint #11074366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ENGINE STALLED AFTER FILLING UP WITH FUEL. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, FROM THE GAS STATION WHERE I JUST FILLED UP. AT LATER DATES, IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHILE BOTH MOVING AND IDLING IN PARK, BUT ALWAYS RIGHT AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER AND STALL FOR THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO. IF I WAS ABLE TO PUNCH THE THROTTLE QUICKLY ENOUGH I COULD SOMETIMES AVOID THE STALL. IF THE CAR STALLED, IT WOULD ALWAYS RESTART AND EVENTUALLY CLEAR UP AFTER RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. ONCE I REALIZED WHEN AND WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, I BEGAN STOPPING A GALLON SHORT FROM A FULL TANK WHENEVER FUELING UP. THIS HAS STOPPED THE ISSUE, BUT NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I SEE WHERE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH OTHER DODGE AND CHRYSLER MODELS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DONE FOR THE CALIBER/AVENGER VEHICLE CLASS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, IT IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10694693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS 2007 DODGE CALIBER RT AWD IN DEC OF 2012. THE DEALERSHIP GRAND CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP IN LOWELL, MICHIGAN ON MAIN ST, REPORTED TO ME THE CONSUMER, BEFORE PURCHASE, AT MY REQUEST, A VEHICLE HISTORY STATING 1 OWNER VEHICLE WITH NO ACCIDENTS. THANK GOD I DID GET THE WARRANTY BECAUSE LESS THAN 14 DAYS FRESH OFF THE LOT, THE VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER AND BARELY DRIVEABLE, THE CAR, WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 55 TO 60 MPH, LOST SPEED REAL QUICKLY AND AND COULD BARELY DRIVE IT TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CODED AT SERVICE SHOP 02 CENSORS AND CATILLATIC CONVERTOR, THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND BACK AND FORTH FROM MY HOME FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, UNTIL FINALLY THE CALIBER HAD TO BE SEEN BY A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE AND NOW PUSHING 2 MONTHS WITHOUT THE VEHICLE NOT ONLY DID THE 02 SENSORS AND CATILLATIC CONVERTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE COMPUTER TOO. GOT THE VEHICLE BACK DROVE IT 3 MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE HAD GRINDING IN THE FRONT END,ELECTRICAL SEAT HEATING AND BLINKERS SYSTEMS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, EACH TIM THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED SLUGGISH AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP LACKED CONCERN AND MADE ME DRIVE IT IN THE UNSAFE CONDITION FROM WEST OLIVE MICHIGAN TO LOWELL.OCT 2014 THE VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A SERIOUS REAR END ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WENT FROM 60 MPH TO 10 MPH JUST LIKE THAT CARS ON THE HIGHWAY SWIRVED TO MISS HITTING ME AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. A GENTLEMAN STOPPED TO HELP ME PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD.. VEHICLE AND I SAT FOR ALOMOST AN HOUR WAITING FOR TOW SERVICE. SERVICE DEPT. CODED THE VEHICLE WITH A CRANK SHAFT CENSOR PROBLEM AND A RECALL AS WELL FOR THE FRONT END CROSS MEMBER RUSTS OUT AND CAUSE BAD SETTLING AND EXCESSIVE TIRE PRESSURE FROM THE ERROSION NOT SUPPORTING THE SUB FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #10669473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

CAR ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY CAR SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTION, MECHANIC REPORTED THAT SUB FRAME AROUND LOWER A ARM WAS ROTTED AND ENTIRE BACK SIDE OF CRADLE ALSO WAS ROTTED. EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER CAR LOOKS NEW, WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY JUST THIS PART OF CAR IS ROTTING. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE THIS VEHICLE RECALLED, AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND FINDING THIS BEING ONE OF THE COMMON DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10663002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC AFTER FILLING TANK WITH FUEL. AFTER STALLING A COUPLE OF TIMES CONDITION CLEARS. HAVE AVOIDED FILLING TANK BUT THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN AND STALLING CREATES HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHEN WIFE DRIVES CAR AND HAS GRAND CHILD IN CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10619095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ONE DAY AS I CAME BACK TO MY CAR AND UNLOCKED MY DOOR WITH MY CAR KEY BUTTON, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO BUY A NEW HEADLIGHT BULB TO REPLACE IT, EXCEPT IT DIDN'T WORK WHEN I TRIED THE NEW ONE. I WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO ASK WHAT WAS WRONG. HE TOLD ME IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WIRES AND WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT, LET ALONE THE PART ITSELF. I RESEARCHED OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN REJECTED A REGISTRATION STICKER BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR IT TO BE OUT. I ALSO HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE COPS AND WAS TOLD TO GET IT FIXED. I WOULD, BUT IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A VALID REASON FOR IT TO BE RECALLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, DUE TO SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON.

NHTSA complaint #10610113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

IN JULY 2009 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE, I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY FROM A STOP OR NEAR STOP, IT HESITATED DRAMATICALLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COULD DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. THIS IS STILL AN ONGOING ISSUE. THEN IN JUNE OF 2013, WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION, A MOMENT LATER STARTED A WARNING BEEP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON THE FLASHERS WHILE TRYING TO MANEUVER FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AFTER A WEEK AT THE MECHANIC HE CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT COULD BE THE CRANK SENSOR, WHICH WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE SENSOR AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS CORRECTED. I DIDN'T GET FIVE MILES FROM THE MECHANIC WHEN THE CAR AGAIN LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC TOWED THE CAR BACK THE NEXT DAY. HE HAD THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER TO HIS SHOP SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE REP THOUGHT THE COMPUTER NEEDED AN UPDATE AND THAT IS WHAT WAS DONE, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. (I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY CHRYSLER THAT THE COMPUTER HAD UPDATES THAT WERE REQUIRED.) THE MECHANIC HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THE CAR, ALL OF WHICH WERE NOT FINDING THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO HAD NO NEW COMPUTER CODES, WHICH WAS WHEN THEY REALIZED THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS TOOK A MONTH TO SOLVE AND THE COST WAS $1130.

NHTSA complaint #10526412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FAILED EMISSIONS INSPECTION, ENGINE LIGHT INDICTOR. BASED ON INFORMATIONOBTAINED FROM THE OBD THE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10452619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD SUFFERED POWER LOSS, LOSS OF BRAKING RESULTING IN FLASHING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS TO ACTIVATE. VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER REPORTED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE BODY WAS REQUIRED AT A COST OF 500.00. DEFECTIVE FRONT BALL JOINT WAS REPORTED AND REPLACED. A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FOR THIS HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

NHTSA complaint #10408798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ODOR RELEASED THROUGH VENTS WHEN AIR CONDITIONING OR DEFOGGER IS IN OPERATIONS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS STRONG STENCH; IT IS QUITE NAUSEATING. MY SON HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE WITH THE OPERATION OF EITHER DEVICE WITH THIS ODOR. AS FAR AS I CAN SURMISED, IT SMELLS LIKE ANTIFREEZE.

NHTSA complaint #10255085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CAM SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10160959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.