FaultScore

2009 Dodge Caliber other reported problems

25 of the 355 complaints about the 2009 Dodge Caliber are about the other systems — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 117,075 miles.

A

25

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Unknown OR Other 25 100.0%

Other & Unspecified across every Dodge Caliber year

2007 57 39.3%
2008 28 19.3%
2009 25 17.2%
2010 22 15.2%
2011 13 9.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

NEW Whiteland, IN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Under paneling under all doors and under car rusting out completely. Falling pieces fly away anytime.

NHTSA complaint #11728203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cement City, MI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My car will not shift. It’s saying that the part that was fixed under the recall is bad. What do I do now?

NHTSA complaint #11717352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lansdale, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Check frame - known rot concerns Hole has started to open up center rear of engine subframe on the weld line. Subframe doesn’t appear to be in immediate failure, but will not pass inspection. Called dealer and was told parts aren’t available! No incident just getting inspected!

NHTSA complaint #11594174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mason City, IA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Rotting/rusting subframe. Not listed as a recall for this model year, but was for the previous years.

NHTSA complaint #11503077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Omaha, NE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The transmission doesn't shift so if I am on the interstate doing 65 to 70 miles per hr.the transmission fluid heats up .Dodges answer to this is slow down or pull off interstate @ wait till it cools down then continue on your way,so in 50 miles I had to pull over 3 times my opinion not safe..

NHTSA complaint #11497796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malden, MA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Brought 2009 Caliber with 34,000 original miles to have breaks checked, the owner showed me there is not a brake issue, but the Sub Frame was extremely rotted and needed to be attended to as it could cause a serious accident. I had a Lifetime Added Care Plus warranty, but of course wasn't covered. I have been the only driver since vehicle was purchased.

NHTSA complaint #11491301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Bend, IN Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The car was in park on a hill, when I turned off the engine, it rolled down the steep hill and the brakes or emergency brake would not work. I crashed through a fence across the street and into a building. The car was totaled.

NHTSA complaint #11471526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union Grove, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Hearing noise on drivers side. Took to garage for inspection and H Frame, sub frame, is rusting out and needs to be replaced. Motor and A Arms mount to this frame. Find out this is a common problem and no recall or help from Chrysler. This is a huge safety issue! Only have 68,000 on vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11460742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,400 miles Emden, IL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRONT SUBFLOOR BROKE IN HAVE THEY SAID IF GOING FASTER I WOULD HAVE ROLLED IT ONLY GOT 2000 HAD 1000 DEDUCTION I'M DISABLED I THINK I SHOULD GET MORE OF REFUND FOR YOUR DEFAULT

NHTSA complaint #11404141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Columbia, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DURING AN INSPECTION BY MY DEALER IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO NOTE DURING PREVIOUS INSPECTIONS. ALLOWING THE FAILURE TO BE PUSHED OUT PAST THE TIME OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR. THE CORRODED SUBFRAMES ALLOWED MORE FLEXURE IN THE SUB FRAMES ADD STRESS TO THE BUSHINGS AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES CAUSES THE REPAIR COST TO MULTIPLY. THESE COMPONENT FAILURES COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #11402994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Castle Rock, CO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR ELECTRICAL HAS ISSUES FLICKERING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. ALSO HAS TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING ISSUES WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING OVER THE MIDDLE LINE OF THE GAUGE. NO SIGH OF OVER HEATING BESIDES TRANSMISSION LIGHT TURNING ON AND GOING INTO LIMP MODE. CAN NOT DRIVE LONGER THEN AN HOUR WITHOUT IT GOING INTO LIMP MODE WITH TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON. STARTED WHEN IT WAS BARELY AT 10,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11390634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portsmouth, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN I STARTED MY 09 DODGE CALIBER UP ONE MORNING . I BACK UP ,THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT HESITATED AND JUMP OR JOLT.IT SCARED ME .THE ENGINE CAME ON,SO I WENT TO A AUTO PARTS STORE DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE TO GET A READING OR CODES READ ON MY CALIBER, IT GAVE ME A CODE ABOUT THE POWER TRAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11378071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Buffalo, MN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE THROTTLE BODY SEEMS TO BE A HUGE THING EVEN ON YOUTUBE, IT KEEPS GOING OUT. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING YOU REPLACE. IT'S FAULTY AND NOW MINE HAD JUST BROKE DOWN AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH A 300 THROTTLE BODY. THIS SHOULD DEFIANTLY BE A RECALL ASAP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11251939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 179,000 miles Grafton, WV

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE FRONT SUB-FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED / RUSTED. I NOTICED THIS WHEN DOING FRONT END WORK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11252080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,455 miles Prairie DU Chien, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY TRANSMISSION IS LUNGING FORWARD T ALL RATES OF SPEED

NHTSA complaint #11129748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,000 miles Westfield, IN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DURING AN OVERALL CHECK UP OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC FOUND RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME. HE ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT DRIVING IT FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS MAY BE PUSHING OUR LUCK.

NHTSA complaint #11101986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,075 miles Johnstown, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUBFRAME RUSTED CRACKS VERY DANGEROUS FREQUENT NOISES!

NHTSA complaint #11089296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,000 miles Fort Wayne, IN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE K FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED FROM RUST.

NHTSA complaint #10992094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Exeter, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS INVOLVING THE THROTTLE BODY, PCM AND FUEL PEDDLE ALL WITH NO EFFECT ON THE ISSUE OF SHAKING, DYING, PERIODIC ENGINE LIGHT AND SAFETY CONCERN OVER THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER. NOW I'M TOLD IT'S PROBABLY THE COMPUTER. THE BUILD DATE FALLS WITHIN A SAFETY RECALL BUT I'M TOLD IT WON'T BE HONORED BECAUSE THE VIN ISN'T UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10956140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Sidney, OH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10892201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Fairview Park, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AFTER SUSPECTING SOME FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES I TOOK MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION HE REPORTED THAT, ALONG WITH CONTROL ARMS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, THE SUBFRAME WAS UNUSUALLY RUSTED AND CORRODED TO A POINT THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I INVESTIGATED THE MATTER AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER ISSUED AN EXTENSION ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY TO COVER THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2007 CALIBERS BUT WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY INFORMED MY THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 CALIBER. THE CAR IS AT THE GARAGE AND WILL BE GETTING FIXED TOMORROW. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND WILL PURSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10761129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,500 miles Natrona Heights, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED OUT WHEN THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST AT ALL RESULTING IN APPROX. $800 TO $1000 IN REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10758678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wingdale, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ROTTED OUT.CORRODED IN 6 YEARS CAR UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10749013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 808,012 miles Dallas, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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 800 miles Lebanon, CT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATES THE AIR CONDITIONING OR HEATER, HIS HAND WILL TOUCH AND ACTIVATE THE FOUR WAY FLASHER. HE STATED THAT THE FLASHER WAS IN A BAD LOCATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE POOR DESIGN OF THE FLASHER AND AIR CONDITIONER KNOBS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. UPDATED 08/20/09.

NHTSA complaint #10277567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Dodge Caliber problems

← Full 2009 Dodge Caliber report