RoadVitals

2008 Dodge Caliber AWD Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Dec 5, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 30, 2010

What this page shows

Our database holds 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Dodge Caliber AWD. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–17 of 17

Filed Dec 5, 2018

MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION 2 WEEKS AGO. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS A K FRAME RECALL ON 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, BUT NOT 2008. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT HAS RUINED MY NEW TIRES. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2000 FOR REPAIRS. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED JANUARY OF 2018.

NHTSA ID
11156395
Incident
Nov 11, 2018
Mileage
47,500 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 10, 2018

COMING HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING HOME WITH A FLASHLIGHT. ALSO THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAD. OUR OIL CHANGED AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND THE OIL PAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON

NHTSA ID
11110581
Incident
Jul 9, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2016

WHEN FUELING CAR GAS INTAKE CUTS OFF REPEATEDLY. TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO PUT GAS IN CAR. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY 7 - 8 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
10846456
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 2016

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PICTURE CAME ON DASH AS I WAS TRYING TO START CAR TO LEAVE FROM MY HOME. CAR SHUT OFF AND DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN. DONT WANT TO RUN BATTERY DOWN. CAR STILL IN GARAGE AT HOME.

NHTSA ID
10821772
Incident
Jan 22, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Aug 27, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEATED SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE SEATS TO OVERHEAT LEAVING A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES BEHIND THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR OF THE SEAT WAS WARM AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING THE WIPER BLADES TO FAIL AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MAIN WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND THE HEATED PAD, WIRING, ZONE, COVER, AND SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE OVERHEATED SEAT FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ID
10759726
Incident
Oct 20, 2014
Mileage
97,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 7, 2015

WHILE GETTING A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION ON A LOW MILEAGE (56K) GARAGE KEPT DODGE CALIBER THE CAR FAILED DUE BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST, FRACTURES AND HOLES. BOTH THE SUBFRAMES CROSSMEMBERS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2007 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT HONORED ON THE 2008.

NHTSA ID
10732367
Incident
Jul 3, 2015
Mileage
56,708 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2015

CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TIPM. I OFTEN TRAVEL THE FREEWAY AND WAS EXPERIENCING A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH A VARIETY OF DODGE MODEL CARS AND FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. I FEEL THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM FAILURE HAS ON THESE MODELS AS WELL AS THEIR SAFETY FEATURE IS NUMEROUS. I ALSO QUITE SURE THAT THE COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF ITS DEFECTS, YET THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10695452
Incident
Mar 16, 2008
Mileage
129,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID
10661597
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
56,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2014

VEHICLE STARTING MAKING A SOUND. WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10569155
Incident
Mar 4, 2014
Mileage
56,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 27, 2013

HAD TO REPLACE THE WISH BONES. AND AM ON MY 5 TH SET IF TIRES SINCE MAY OF 2012. WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP AT $130 A PIECE FOR THE CHEAPEST. ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS OFF AND TIRES HAVE TO BE PUMPED EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
10557397
Incident
May 9, 2012
Mileage
63,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 26, 2013

FOUND BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM'S WORN TO A POINT WHERE THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS NYS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF WORN BALL JOINTS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10545486
Incident
Sep 7, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 2013

WENT TO YOUR CAR ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7,2013 TO OPEN MY DRIVER DOOR AND IT FELL OFF THE HINGE. PURCHASE THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT SINCE I'VE BEEN THE OWNER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND I'M JUST SHOCKED THE HINGE WOULD BREAK. I NEED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HINGE IS DEFECTIVE AND THIS SORT OF THING IS NOT A COMMON INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542635
Incident
Sep 7, 2013
Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 2013

IF IT IS 80 DEGREES OR HOTTER, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER DOOR OR BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE KEY. THEY WILL NOT PERFORM THE AUTOMATIC LOCK WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING THE HATCH BECAUSE THERE IS NO KEY HOLE. I'M AFRAID THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS HOT WEATHER OR WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A LONG TRIP. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10521776
Incident
Jun 13, 2011
Mileage
53,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 6, 2012

FRONT TIRES PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING COMPLETELY. CAR HAS 38K MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $650.00 AND NOW BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT A COST OF $580.00. VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THESE LOW MILES. THE MECHANIC SAID THE FRONT WHEELS WERE VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF OF THE CAR. CAN YOU HELP? *TR

NHTSA ID
10483553
Incident
Nov 5, 2012
Mileage
38,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 15, 2010

BOTH OF THE TIE RODS ON MY CAR ARE COMPLETELY WORN AT 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE CALIBERS - PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIE RODS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343391
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
36,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 11, 2010

TIRE SENSOR MONITOR BROKE FOR NO REASON ON TWO OF MY TIRES. CALLED TO GET FIXED AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AN ESTIMATED 8,000 ON BACKORDER AND NOT SURE WHEN THEY WOULD BE COMING IN. MY TIRE WAS LOSING AIR EVERY 2 DAYS. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. WHY ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $100.00 PER SENSOR TO HAVE THIS FIXED WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER? CHRYSLER/DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS AND RECALL THE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342490
Incident
Jun 11, 2010
Mileage
44,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2010

I HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER I PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR STOPPING WHEN I APPROACH A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE GONE RIGHT THROUGH TRAFFIC SIGNALS. I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP, AND IT HAD BEEN SNOWING. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, AND I ALMOST SLID INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE BOTH COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303302
Incident
Jan 3, 2010
Mileage
31,100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .