2007 Dodge Caliber Transmission Problems

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 ID

11438320

Incident

Sep 15, 2021

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. ALSO, THE OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED. FLETCHER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (3099 N MORTON ST., FRANKLIN, IN, (317) 738-4170) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,772.

NHTSA ID

11118343

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

Mileage

178,772 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON SUBURBAN ROADS CAR WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AND ALMOST STALL, A RED LIGHTING BOLT WOULD APPEAR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND PCM FLASHED. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER, THIS TIME ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX 65MPH LOSS OF ALL POWER ALMOST STALL. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER, THROTTLE BODY WAS NOT REPLACED HOWEVER PCM WAS AGAIN FLASHED. THIRD OCCURRENCE HAPPENED 09/18/11 ISSUE WAS PRESENT IN BOTH CITY DRIVING AND FREEWAY DRIVING AGAIN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND PCM FLASHED. THIS FAILURE IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10426373

Incident

Oct 18, 2007

Mileage

8,000 mi

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT CATEGORY AS FAR AS THE ELEC.SABILITY CONTROL THE MANUAL REFERS TO IT AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2007 DODGE CALIBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN/VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL AS MANY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM THINKING THEY DO NOT KNOW WHO TO NOTIFY BECAUSE IF THEY DID YOU WOULD HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME. MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER HAS CAUSED ME PROBLEMS AND UNSAFE MOMENTS FOR SOMETIME NOW. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES START WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ON RIGHT OFF THE BAT OTHER TIMES YOU COULD BE CRUISING OVER A BRIDGE AND IT WILL COME ON AND DECIDE TO GO 2 MPH IF EVEN THAT. I HAD AN INCIDENT WITH MY GRANDBABY WHERE WE WERE TURNING LEFT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DECIDED TO GO 1-2 MPH IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT THE ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS OUT THERE FAR ENOUGH FOR US TO GET ACROSS. I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR SINCE. I STILL HAVE A CAR PAYMENT AND INSURANCE PAYMENT BUT CANNOT USE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE PEOPLE ON LINE AND THERE IS QUIET A FEW THAT HAS HAD SEVERAL SCARY SITUATION LIKE MYSELF. THERE HAS BEEN ONES WHO HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.......THEN BACK OUT ON THE ROAD THEY GO AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE WILL BE CROSSING A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND COULD GET IN A BAD WRECK AND DIE? WE NEED YOUR HELP???? *KB

NHTSA ID

10425594

Incident

Dec 7, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT RECURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10418242

Incident

Aug 2, 2011

Mileage

82,500 mi

2007 DODGE CALIBER 2.0 CVT TRANSMISSION: BOUGHT JUNE 13/2007 BRAND NEW VIN [XXX] 5 MI ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS ON SOCIAL SECURITY 31,000 MILES SCRAPING , GRINDING NOISE NOT BRAKES- HAS GOTTEN WORSE -MUCH WORSE. GRINDING STARTS AS SOON AS CAR PUT IN GEAR, WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES. TALKED WITH DODGE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS -IN ALBANY NY AND BALTIMORE MD THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM:TURNS OUT TO BE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. NOT REPAIRABLE. WE WERE BLESSED TO MAKE IT HOME SAFE FROM TRIP TO UPSTATE NY FROM MARYLAND. ERAS STILL RINGING 24 HRS LATER. TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST WILL BE $6,000 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION!! THIS IS NOW A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 'WORD CLASS POWERTRAIN. DAIMLER CHRYSLER, NISSAN AND HYUNDAI - ALL USED THIS TRANSMISSION THEY JOINTLY DEVELOPED. IS NTSB GOING TO DEMAND A RECALL?? [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10408665

Incident

Jun 14, 2011

Mileage

31,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATE 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE FOR 20 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP. THE FAILURE HAPPENED A WEEK LATER AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE FAILURE. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER WHEN SPECIAL TECHNICIANS CAME FROM CHRYSLER. THE DEALER NEVER NOTIFIED HER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10352693

Incident

Apr 4, 2010

Mileage

42,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SELF-CONTAINED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALER, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10348668

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE GAS PEDAL MESSES UP IT CAN BE AT A SLIGHT HILL OR ACCELERATING AT A GREEN LIGHT. I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD ONLY GETTING SLIGHT MOVEMENT; THEN THE CAR JUST ACCELERATES. OTHER TIMES IT ACTS NORMAL. I TOOK IT INTO A REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL SO I PAID $504 THEY SAID IT FINE AND FIXED. THE SAME DAY OF GETTING MY CAR BACK IT DOES THE SAME THING SO I CALLED CHRYSLER 800#. THEY TO SAID MY 2007 WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND TO TAKE IT BACK THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WOULD REIMBURSE IF RECALL WAS EXTENDED TO OTHER 2007 MODELS. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION OF THESE GAS PEDALS. I'M 9 MTHS PREGNANT AND DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT MY CAR WILL MOVE LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339600

Incident

Jun 22, 2010

Mileage

84,004 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SPUN OVER A SIDEWALK INTO A PARKING LOT. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, SHE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE KEYS BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR THIRTY MINUTES. THE DEALER HAD NOT INFORMED THE CONTACT WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10328748

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

4 SETS OF HEADLIGHT HAVE BLOWN ON THE CAR IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THEN MY GEARS AREN'T SHIFTING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT'S MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHICH HAS BEEN HEARD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKS WHEN YOU TURN IT ON OCCASIONS. ON A 2007 DODGE CALIBER SXT2.0. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324504

Incident

Nov 4, 2009

Mileage

48,585 mi

MY 2007 CALIBER HAS LEAKING PROBLEMS, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE AND STILL NOT FIXED, ALSO I JUST BROUGHT IT IN FOR A GRINDING NOISE, AT 16,000 MILES. THE DEALER 1ST TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG COME AND GET IT, I DID NOT GET IT I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT AND DRIVE IT 1ST THING IN THE MORN. THEY DID AND HEARD THE LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME IT NEEDED SWAYBAR BUSHINGS AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS CALIBER IS JUNK. WITH EACH SUPPOSED REPAIR FOR LEAKING THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS TOTAL. ALSO THIS TIME WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT HAS BE 3 DAYS. I HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR EACH TIME. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS MAKE A WEIRD LOUD NOISE AT TIMES WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOORS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH MY 4 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I NEED A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256846

Incident

Sep 22, 2008

Mileage

16,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF OR HESITATE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE COULD ALMOST BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OVER TEN TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN, OR JUST RUNNING IN NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S WOULD FLUCTUATE WHEN IDLING. UPDATED 01/08/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10249657

Incident

Jul 17, 2006

Mileage

20 mi

I RECENTLY HAD A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED IN MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER (32,000 MILES). LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK, I AGAIN HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR THIS TIME AROUND THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND REPLACED THE GENT POWER MODULE, $800 COMPUTER PART (UNDER WARRANTY).

NHTSA ID

10231496

Incident

Jun 8, 2008

Mileage

32,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE CALIBER IN JUNE 2006. I NOTICED THIS CAR'S ROAD NOISE INCREASED OVER TIME, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE WINDOWS SQUEAL PUTTING THEM UP OR DOWN, AND THE DOOR HINGES SOUND AS IF THEY HAVE BEEN ROTTING IN A JUNK YARD SOMEWHERE FOR YEARS, AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE WEIRD SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE HEAT OR AC IS ON. MY COMPLAINT, HOWEVER, IS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. ON MY WAY TO WORK, WHILE I CAME TO A BRIEF STOP AND PROCEEDED TO TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD WHEN MY CAR LURCHED AND SLOWED RIGHT BACK DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND AFTER SPEAKING TO THEM DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR THERE. AS I PULLED FORWARD ANOTHER LIGHT POPPED ON. THIS TIME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION OVER TEMPERATURE LIGHT. (I WAS BARELY GOING 10MPH AND IT WAS 70 DEGREES OUT). FROM THERE THE CAR WAS VERY SLUGGISH TAKING FOREVER TO GET UP TO SPEED AND I WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS EVERY TIME I HAD TO COME TO A STOP. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO WOULD NOT GIVE ME OR COVER A RENTAL. I GOT MY CAR BACK 3 DAYS LATER AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. (BY THE WAY THERE IS NO RECALL, BUT CHRYSLER HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE). SUNDAY JUNE 8, 2008, I WAS DRIVING FOR 2 MINUTES WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR LURCHED, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THIS TIME THE PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE INDICATORS ALL LIT UP AS IF I WAS IN EVERY GEAR AT ONCE. MY APPOINTMENT IS TOMORROW. I ARGUED TO GET A RENTAL, ON THEM THIS TIME AND WILL UPDATE AS SOON AS I HAVE ANY NEWS. I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING, AFTER READING EVERYONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230316

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

31,966 mi

BOUGHT 2007 DODGE CALIBER SXT WITH 9,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS 13,000. LOVE THE CAR BUT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR CVT2 TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR STARTS TO GO THEN SUDDENLY LOSES POWER TO PULL ITSELF. RPM'S HIT 5000+ YET NOT PICKING UP SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT WASN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE 4TH TIME WAS ON 8-17-2007 WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A 4 LANE + CENTER LANE HIGHWAY FROM A STOP. THE CAR STARTED TO GO THEN SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST LANE IT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. RPM'S HIT 5500+ AND STILL NOT PICKING UP SPEED. 45 MPH TRAFFIC HAD TO BRAKE AS I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. MASHED GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NOTHING BUT THE REVVING OF THE ENGINE AND MY FAMILY SCREAMING FOR ME TO GO GO GO!!! I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2007!!!! DEALER WANTS TO TRADE ME OUT OF IT AT MY COST AND LOSS OF MONEY AND AT A HIGHER INTEREST RATE!!!!!! THE CAR IN NOW PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN ANYTIME SOON. I AM PAYING FOR A "COFFIN" ON WHEELS AS I AM SURE THAT IS WHAT IT WILL TURN INTO BEFORE DODGE FINDS AND CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200410

Incident

Aug 17, 2007

Mileage

129,342 mi

DODGE CALIBER MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 1.8 L ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC ON SECONDARY STREETS (3X NOW). THE FIRST 2 WERE WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF GETTING THE VEHICLE NEW AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE DRIVER RELATED AS I WAS GETTING USED TO THE CLUTCH. BOTH WERE SITUATIONS WHERE I WASN'T COMING TO A FULL STOP- JUST ROLLING SLOWLY WITH THE CLUTCH IN AND THEN BRAKING A LITTLE, LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH TO CONTINUE THE ROLL AND REPEATING. BUT THE 3RD WAS RECENTLY WHERE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND SLOWLY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, I WAS COASTING TO LET A CAR GO BY (NOT COMING TO A FULL STOP) BEFORE MAKING THE TURN, AND AS I RELEASED THE CLUTCH GENTLY TO PROVIDE THE POWER TO TURN ONTO THE SIDE STREET IT JUST STALLED AND I WAS LEFT CRANKING ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR PARKED ON THE CORNER. I QUICKLY PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, REGAINING STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198222

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

Mileage

4,500 mi

2007 DODGE CALIBER. OVERHEATING OF TRANSMISSION AFTER ABOUT 3000 MILES. OCCURS AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES ON HIGHWAY. COMPUTER CHECK AT DEALER SHOWED NO FAULT. NO ACTION TAKEN BY DODGE. PROBLEM PERSISTS, AND NOW WE NOT ONLY GET THE ORANGE WARNING LIGHT BUT ALSO THE RED ONE AFRAID TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193509

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

3,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER WHEN STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND WELL WHEN COLD. I HAD THE EMISSIONS RECALL PERFORMED AND IT HAS STALLED ONLY ONCE SINCE HAVING THAT DONE. ALSO MY FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED FROM 29-30 MPG TO 25-26. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175119

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

3,500 mi

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 30 DAYS SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THE CAR WAS A NICE VEHICLE, UNTIL ONE DAY COMING HOME FROM HEIDELBERG, GERMANY. I WAS ON AUTOBAHN 656 BETWEEN HEIDELBERG AND MANNHEIM. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE DRIVING ABOUT 70 K/HR. I WENT TO TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS AND AS I DID THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD PANEL WENT BLANK. ALL METERS (ODOMETER, TACOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER) DROPPED TO ZERO, BUT THEY QUICKLY CAME BACK ON. WHEN THEY RETURNED TO NORMAL, THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET REAR-ENDED BY A CAR TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. I CHANGED LANES AND GOT TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN I SHUT IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. BUT WHEN I HAD STARTED THE CAR, THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAD TURNED ON AND WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY APARTMENT AND LET IT BE PARKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE, I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAD WENT OUT. MY WIFE THEN DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE CAR LOT ON TUESDAY MORNING. I HAD TALKED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, A ONE [email protected], I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I FELT THE CAR IS AN UNSAFE CAR. YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DESERVE THE CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT WHO IS TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED CORRECTLY AND THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT IF MY WIFE AND MYSELF DON'T FIND OUT THAT IT WASN'T PERFECTLY FIXED UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. IF I'M DRIVING AND I HAVE AN ACCIDENT, DO YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE TO EXPLAIN TO MY FAMILY WHY YOU WOULD NOT TAKE MY CAR ON A RETURN BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE? I HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED DODGE VEHICLES. I DON'T LIKE DRIVING ANYTHING BUT A DODGE. I DON'T BLAME ANYONE AT MILIATARY CAR SALES OR EVEN DODGE. BUT I DO NOT WANT THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. OUR LIVES HANG IN YOUR HANDS MAKE US KEEP AN UNSAFE CAR OR LET US RETURN IT TODAY 13 OCT 2007 AT 1743. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172047

Incident

Oct 9, 2006

Mileage

710 mi