221 of the
2,919 complaints filed about the Dodge Caliber
are about the transmission —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
221
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Vehicle tipm shut off transmission while driving an cause a traffic jam on a busy intersection caused the transmission system to go in limp mode an no breaks. Was very dangerous lucky I had a hand break that worked cause engine to shut off an studder had to get towed an transported the vehicle home an got it inspected by a mobile mechanic an says the fuse box had blown internal components due to failing internal electrical components or weak points in the tipm system
NHTSA complaint #11736456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was informed on 09/29/2025 by my Chrysler dealer that a second critical component of my 2007 Caliber frame had rusted to the point that it broke. The first critical component was reported in my complaint tracking number 11459461 submitted on 04/03/2022. The component in that filing was the engine pan that supported the engine. On this latest failure, I was told the same thing by the shop manager: "If you hit a bump while driving this vehicle you could lose your back wheels". In the first incident, the engine could have fallen out of my vehicle. He was not going to let me drive it home. Then he changed his mind and told me it was "at my discretion". I did drive it home (4.5 miles) with no problem. He told me he was going to try and find a new or used part to fix the issue. He made it clear that he was not hopeful of finding one. This is twice now that my life and the lives of any drivers on the road at the same time were placed in danger from excessive rusting problems. I submitted files in the first incident showing that Chrysler was aware of the issue. A copy of the corporate service bulletin was attached. To my knowledge nothing was ever done. Is anything going to be done this time?
NHTSA complaint #11691736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Started hearing a loud banging noise whenever i would hit a bump or turn left coming from drivers side tire. after getting home, i checked and the entire subframe is rusted out.
NHTSA complaint #11493580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The message "Transmission Overheating" and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle would not exceed 30 MPH while driving. The contact veered to the side of the road, where the vehicle remained. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 240,578.
NHTSA complaint #11484123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
The engine stalls when I take off more times than none I'm stuck idling in traffic almost causing accident the frame that hold motor mounts are bad I've replaced motor mounts twice in a less than a year the car heats up after 70 miles an hour I have 5o pull over and let it cool off this happens 3 to 4 times a week with the engine stalling and overheating didn't find out til after I leased the car from AtoZ auto on gen McMullen and it's financed through car financial services I believe they knew the car was damaged I got scammed and have to pay 425 dollars a month on a car that can't be fixed I've spent a lot trying to fix the car
NHTSA complaint #11456269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My PCM failed car stopped on the highway in traffic without warning. I could have die or caused a death. My car is available . I’ve owned that vehicle for going on three months the first issue that I’ve had. After Car felt the check engine light came on I took it to be for a diagnostics test which read the PCM was the issue. My car is a 2009 Dodge caliber just recently charged 81,000 miles I pay $6000 for a car I just don’t believe that [XXX] dealer didn’t know I am fearful of dry driving it but what choice do I have. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11450676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and was able the restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.
NHTSA complaint #11438320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When the vehicle reaches 3,000 RPMs the temperature light comes on and the vehicle seems like it wants to go into neutral The engine light comes on the antilock brake system light comes on.
NHTSA complaint #11421138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 07 CALIBER BOUGHT OFF A INDIVIDUAL CASH PRICE.WASN'T AWARE OF THE CONCERN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT LEFT BROKEN STRUTS,. NO START OR NO CRANK DUE TO THEFT SYSTEM WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE. ... WATER LEAK FROM SUN ROOF DRAIN TUBES. ... BLOWN STRUTS. ... ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULES MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED AT THE SAME TIME. ... NO START OR NO CRANK DUE TO THEFT SYSTEM ISSUE. ... EXCESS DRAIN ON BATTERY DUE TO FAULTY RADIO.AS WELL MOAN TYPE NOISE FROM EXHAUST SQUEEK NOISE FROM CLUTCH PEDAL AC COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSOR REPLACMENT DUE TO "SLUGGING" CONDITION NOISE FROM HVAC BLOWER MOTOR DUE TO DEBIRS SWISH SOUND FROM REAR SUSPENSION SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR STEERING ANGLE SENSOR FAULT WHISTLE SOUND FROM LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR ASSEMBLY METALLIC RATTLE SOUND FROM LIFTGATE DRIVING AROUND TOWN
NHTSA complaint #11384247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. THEN WHEN I STARTED IT, IT WOULD ONLY GO 5 MILES A HOUR. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A WRECK WITH MY 3 YR. OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME. I HAD A CODE READER PUT ON IT AND IT READS U0402-IMPLAUSIBLE DATA RECEIVED FROM TCM.
NHTSA complaint #11373981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OK SO LET ME START BY SAVING LIVES THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE CALIBER THE SUBFRAMES ARE ROTTING IN HALF I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE 3 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS STUPID CAR AND THEY RUSTED IN HALF ON THEM ALSO THINGS TO ADD TO THIS CAR IS THERE IS NO UPPER BALL JOINT WHICH CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO GO BAD IS THE SHOCKS ARE BAD I HAD TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CVT 20K MILES INTO THIS HUNK OF CRAP CVT IS BAD AND THE BANDS THEY USE ARE CHEAP BUT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COOLING PROBLEM WITH THERE SET UP FOR TRANSMISSION WITH CAUSE THEM TO HEAT UP AND BURN FLUIDS CHRYSLER SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS CRAP AND HONESTLY YOU WILL SEE ALOT MORE OF THESE CARS CAUSING PEOPLE TO DIE SERIOUSLY TAKE A LOOK ONLINE AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES IT'S PRETTY SICKING TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL AIN'T DOING YOUR JOB MY 30 YEAR OLD CAMARO SUBFRAME NEVER ROTTED LIKE THIS AND SAT AND DRIVEN IN ALL WEATHER
NHTSA complaint #11373191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DRIVING BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND JERKED WITHOUT MOVING BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRED AND UNDRIVABLE AT THE RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #11364112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER REACHING 100K MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. SINCE THEN MY TRANSMISSION OVER HEATS WHEN I DRIVE 65 OR MORE MPH. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER ABOUT A YEAR LATER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1500. I WALKED OUT! I DRIVE 64 MPH TO KEEP IT FROM OVER HEATING.
NHTSA complaint #11360104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE CEASED AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #11331408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SPEED LOWERED AND THE TRANS TEMP LIGHT AND ESP LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL AND ETB MODULE LIGHT CAME CAR WON'T GO OVER 40 AND REMAINS IN LIMP MODE EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP
NHTSA complaint #11326698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.