11 of the
355 complaints about the 2009 Dodge Caliber are about the
fuel system — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
82,000 miles.
The problem initially occurred in early November of 2020 when the vehicle would unpredictably stall at a stop sign or traffic light and would not immediately start for a couple minutes. After this short wait of 1 to 3 minutes it was possible to restart the car and move forward normally and the car could be driven without stalling for 2 or 3 miles when it would stall again and the engine would not start again for 2 to 3 minutes. In traffic situations this was unsafe to not be able to move the vehicle to a safe distance from heavy traffic. Finally, the problem started to occur after the vehicle was supposedly repaired and not driven for 2 -3 days and when it an attempt to start the car it would idle for 3-5 seconds and sound like it was choking before dying, and this was happening 2 weeks after it had been "repaired" by the Dodge dealer. This problem has repeatedly occurred over the two years since the original incident and has been to a Dodge dealership for unsuccessful repairs 4 different times; 11/20; 04/22 &05/22 and it is still at the dealership being inoperable. Each time the car functioned for a few miles and then broke down again. The dealer informs us that the parts that would most likely repair the car are no longer made by Dodge and the car cannot be fixed. Interestingly enough this model vehicle has had a variety of recalls starting in 2007 but never for the particular control modules that are no longer available which are The Throttle control & Power Train Control modules, which the Dealer thinks might possibly be a fix but even that is not a sure thing. The Dodge dealer that worked on the vehicle presumably would have informed me about this situation at least before they had the vehicle in for now the 4th time in 3 years with the same problem with no solution. Up to the time of these breakdowns the vehicle was well maintained and taken care of and still has low mileage of just over 69,000 miles. Is the Dodge Corporation at least partially liable?
NHTSA complaint #11479281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesJackson, MS
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR WILL STALL AND NOT TAKE OFF AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A LIGHT FOR TOO LONG . WILL SHUT OFF AS WELL ALONG WITH THROTTLING AS IF IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF
NHTSA complaint #11302111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 187,042 milesSt.joesph, MO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IT WAS RAINING AND AS IT WAS RAINING MY CAR STARTED TO BLINK ALL LIGHTS AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT AS I WAS DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT STARTED GOING CRAZY THE TACHOMETER WENT CRAZY AND SO DID MY SPEEDOMETER EVENTUALLY MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT THE ACCELORATOR WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. AND THAN EVENTUALLY IT JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER WHEN I TRIED TURNING THE CAR BACK ON.THE STARTED WOULDNT ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD START TILL I PUT UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND HOOKED IT BACK IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 12/25/2016 6/15/2017 AND AGAIN TODAY 11/3/2017 THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MY FATHER OWNED THE VEHICLE AS WELL BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM.
NHTSA complaint #11043057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,500 milesBrandon, FLCrashFire1 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10874440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesGrangeville, ID
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR SEEMS TO REV AT A FAST SPEED. HAD TO USE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW IT DOWN TO ABOUT 25 MPH THEN PUT IT IN PARK UNTIL THE VEHICLE REGULATED ITS SELF
NHTSA complaint #10850504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 808,012 milesDallas, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60-65 MPH WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO RESIST ( PULL BACK) AS I WAS TRYING TO CUT OVER A FEW LANES THE SPEED DROPPED DRAMATIC TO 5PMH AND SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF THE HIGHWAY IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. GOOD THING I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME. GET HOME THE CAR WOULD START BUT THERE WAS NO DRIVING POWER NO SPEED. TRIED TO BACK THE CAR UP WOULD NOT PUSH PAST 10RPM. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A MACANIC SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WAS THE ISSUE. I READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON GOOGLE ABOUT DODGE CALIBERS HAVING THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS IT HITS 80+THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I SEE THAT MANY CARS HAVE BEEN ON RECALL EXCEPT THE CALIBERS?
NHTSA complaint #10747976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesAustell, GA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE DOOR LATCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND FUEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10653121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesSylvania, OH
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS FOR 5 MONTHS. I TURN THE KEY AND THE CAR IS DEAD OR IT ATTEMPTS TO TURN OVER. USUALLY AFTER 6 - 8 TRIES IT WILL START, TWICE I HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I HAVE HAD WITNESSES IN THE CAR WITH ME WHEN IT HAPPENS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER DEALERS REFUSE TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO FAIL AT THEIR SITE. IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER 20 DAYS SINCE JUNE. CHRYSLER GROUP SAYS THEY WILL REFUND PART OF THE REPAIR COSTS IF "I" CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY APPARENTLY CANNOT IDENTIFY IT. THE CAR NOW HAS 31,750 MILES ON IT. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS UNRELIABLE. SO I HAVE A $17,775 CAR WHICH I MADE PAYMENTS ON FOR 4 YEARS WHICH IS USELESS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER. I AM DESPERATE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER NEW CAR RIGHT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10641376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,166 milesCanovanas, PR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2009 DODGE CALIBER PRESENTED PROBLEMS AT 7,166 MILES, BRAND NEW. I WAS DRIVING WHILE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STALLED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL, THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE AND THE EVAPORATIVE DETECTOR SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THEN THE BATTERY PRESENTED CORROSION, THE DEALER MADE ME PAY FOR THE SERVICES, THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY. AFTER THAT THE CAR KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW BATTERY THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN, IT WAS TOOK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE PCM WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE PART CAME IN AND IT DIDN'T WORK, MY CAR WAS ON THE DEALER FOR OVER 2 MONTHS BECAUSE DE PCM SENT BY CHRYSLER WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, SO I NEEDED TO KEEP WAITING. ANOTHER PCM WAS ORDERED AND THEY MADE ME PAY OVER 2,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS; AND AFTER TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE DEALER, THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PCM, TIPM AND ALL THE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS AND DETECTOR EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM AND THE CHRYSLER DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO HONOR ANY WARRANTIES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX ANY PROBLEMS. THIS 2009 DODGE CALIBER WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER. IT IS TO RISKY TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IT IS ALSO A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS DANGEROUS, AND THE CHRYSLER AND ITS DEALERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND EXTEND THE RECALL AND RESPOND TO MANY CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR THINKING IT WAS A RELIABLE CAR, WITH A GOOD WARRANTY THAT NOW THEY REFUSE TO HONOR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE!
NHTSA complaint #10553805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mansfield, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2009 DODGE CALIBER. CONSUMER STATES SMELL OF GAS LEAK AND MELTED WIRES GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP.*TGW THE WIRES ALSO MELTED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINES. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE MELTED WIRES AND THE FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10477883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,587 milesCiales, PR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10456390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.