2008 Dodge Caliber Engine Problems

My vehicle has created a rotten subframe that holds my engine

NHTSA ID

11535980

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in the rain, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering became inoperable. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that an unstated computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The contact stated that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and the mechanics has not found a resolution to the problem yet.

NHTSA ID

11502388

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

I’ve only had the car since Aug. Im the second owner, it drove just fine. Then I got an oil change. Then the car began to rev down hill and struggled to make it uphill. Then my exhaust became excessively loud. Then the wheel became loose ,and started pulling ALOT. I was on my way to get an alignment this morning and the whole front end began to buckle not even a minute down the road. I tmade it in back the driveway before the front end collapsed completely

NHTSA ID

11496552

Incident

Dec 8, 2022

LUCKILY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY, ALMOST STOPPING COMPLETELY AND BEGAN TO REBOOT AS IF IT WERE JUST BEING STARTED. I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL IT TO BE SAFE FOR CONSUMERS ON ANY ROAD. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD SON AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE DODGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MY, OR ANYONE ELSE'S FAMILY, GETS WHIPLASH FROM A REAR COLLISION. I'M REACHING OUT TO NHTSA BECAUSE, I LACK THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO FIX IT MYSELF, AND DON'T FIND IT FAIR THAT I PAY FOR A MISTAKE THAT DODGE MADE IN MAKING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324134

Incident

May 10, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE KNOWING OF RUST BUT WHEN I CLIMBED UNDER IT I SEEN THE SUBFRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE I'VE HEARD OF A FEW OTHER CALIBER OWNERS WHO'S WHOLE DRIVETRAIN FELL OUT OF ENGINE BAY DUE TO THIS, THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AND RECALL THIS PART AND PUT A BETTER COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLES THEY PRODUCE

NHTSA ID

11222009

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

MOTOR CRADLE IS RUSTING OUT! THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON CALL CALIBERS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BAY OVER $1,000 TO FIX MY CAR. AND THE MAKER SHOULD USE POOR QUALITY PARTS KNOWING HOW SERIOUS IT CAN GET. RECALL RECALL RECALL !!

NHTSA ID

11163337

Incident

Dec 23, 2018

TOOK OUR DODGE CALIBER 2008 (MANUFACTURER DATE: 11/2007) TO A MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS THOUGHT TO BE STRUTS AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CONTINUE ANY SAFE DRIVING. THIS WAS A 2007 RECALL BUT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN ANY TITLED 2008 CARS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2007. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND SEEMS TO BE REPORTED MORE OFTEN NOW AT THE 10 YEAR MARK. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL PROBLEM ON MOST VEHICLES AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RECALLED, BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT COST ON THIS IS IN THE THOUSANDS AND IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11103479

Incident

Jun 22, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE I HAVE A HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AND HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE THIS IS VERY SERIOUS FIR MY CAR HAVE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THIS PART NEEDED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE I ALL SOME ONE ELSE GET KILLS OR GET BADLY HURT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART 3 TIMES AND I'M VERY TIRED OF THIS PLEASE FIND OUT WHY THIS PART GOES BAD SO FAST ON THESE CARS I HAVE READY PLENTY OF STORIES ABOUT THIS PART GOING OUT ON THESE DODGE CALIBERS AND STILL NO RECALLS DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURTS AND PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE ITS SERIOUS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO Y'ALL ATTENTION DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TO LATE AND THIS IS MY SECOND DODGE CALIBER AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE AND MY CAR WAS IN MOTION IT HAPPENED ALL 3 TIMES

NHTSA ID

11099296

Incident

May 29, 2018

Mileage

199,990 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR BACK IN DRIVE, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MONROE DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM SUPERSTORE (15160 S DIXIE HWY, MONROE, MI 48161, (734) 230-7872) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

NHTSA ID

11063671

Incident

Jan 18, 2018

Mileage

176,000 mi

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 0 RECALLS ON THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.0. HOWEVER, A SIMPLE YOUTUBE SEARCH WILL BRING UP COMMON ISSUES WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHICH CAUSE EXTREME TIRE WEAR AND EVEN SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH VERY LITTLE CONTROL. THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE BODY ARE HUGE ISSUES AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T A YOUTUBE SEARCH THAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION BUT INSTEAD DRIVING ONE AND LOOKING INTO IT. TO MY SURPRISE THERE ARE ZERO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10991328

Incident

May 25, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING AND FRONT SUSPENSION PLATES HAVE FAILED OR BROKEN TWICE ON THIS CAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS SEEM VERY SIMILAR DEALER SEEMS TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL FIX IT FOR 2000.00 CAR PULLS OR VEERS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE MOVING I CANNOT I FEEL SAFELY DRIVE ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947216

Incident

Jan 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE, WHICH CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,577.

NHTSA ID

10943946

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

89,577 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2009, RAN GREAT AT FIRST UNTIL I HIT OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES. I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TO SEE A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS 80 DEGREES OUT AND MY CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I THOUGHT IT OVERHEATED SO I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINS AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. TODAY I WAS AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, TO FIND OUT WHY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS MAKING A NOISE(LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROLL ARM AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES. WHERE'S THE RECALL DODGE?

NHTSA ID

10839592

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE IT SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES AND HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT. I HAD THE RUSTED FRAME REPLACED THIS PASSED AUGUST AFTER MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE CORRODED FRAME. I HAVE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS LISTED AND REPLACED ON MY CAR. I STARTED HEARING AN ODD NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A PULLEY. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND I BROUGHT IT BACK IN FOR SERVICING. MY MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HE TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE IT TIL SOMETHING HAPPENED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON ONE NIGHT DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY FROM GROCERY SHOPPING. THE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING, THE CAR STARTED BUCKING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW ALTERNATOR AT A COST OF $650. A WEEK LATER MY HUSBAND DROVE 6 MILES AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. HE CAME BACK HOME AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC. HE ADVISED TO LET THE CAR STALL OUT AND IT WOULD RECORD ON THE LOG. NEXT DAY SAME THING, I LET IT STALL OUT. TOOK CAR IN. HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SAYS IT WILL BE $500 AT THE DODGE DEALER JUST FOR THE ETC PART. THIS IS A KNOWN DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHY IS DODGE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM? WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHY ISN'T ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE DODGE CALIBER? THIS CAR IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK TO ALL DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10824252

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

I CAN DRIVE THE CAR BUT CAN'T SPEED UP OR ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH. IF I'M AT A STOP LIGHT TOO LONG MY CAR WILL STALL WHILE ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAN'T TURN OVER ENGINE RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10808866

Incident

Dec 6, 2015

Mileage

3 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10786373

Incident

Oct 21, 2015

NOTED MOUNTS RUST AND I ALMOST LOST THE ENGINE THANKS TO A DUE INSPECTION I WAS SAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. THE 2007 DODGE IS COVERED BUT NOT THE 2008.

NHTSA ID

10764716

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10761267

Incident

Aug 26, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CASE FRAME OF THE ENGINE AND THE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10731500

Incident

Jun 30, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10716736

Incident

Apr 5, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ON 6 LANE HIGHWAY ENGINE DECELERATED TO BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. ENGINE BEGUN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH. I WAS APPROACHING A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE MAIN HWY. TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE LIGHT HAD COME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706491

Incident

Apr 17, 2015

Mileage

113,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER IN FEBRUARY 2015 TRAVELING ROUGHLY 45 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE BATTERY LIGHT AND ALL DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON AND FLASH. I WAS ABLE (JUST BARELY) TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PARKED THE CAR; IN THE PREVIOUS 30 DAYS I HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE THAT INCLUDED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTER, ET CETERA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIRING SHOP WHERE A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE INSTALLED, THEN TONIGHT 20150411 THE BATTER LIGHT HAS AGAIN COME ON WITH FLUCTUATING SPEEDS. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE CALIBER REGARDING THE TIPMS SYSTEM OR SUCH; THE FACT THAT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY FAIL TO MAKE THE REQUIRED REPAIRS TO THESE VEHICLES IS ATROCIOUS. THE LIVES OF OTHER VEHICLE OPERATORS ARE BEING PUT AT RISK; I'M CERTAIN THAT SOMETHING MORE SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705142

Incident

Feb 19, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE CROSS COUNTY PWY EAST A LIGHTING BOLT APPEARED ON MY CLUSTER PANEL. THE CAR BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND I COULD NOT SPEED UP CARS SWERVED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME. PRETTY SCARY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10694979

Incident

Feb 11, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

FOR THREE SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURES: 1) APPROXIMATELY APRIL 16, 2014 NOTICED SOME OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED A LITTLE. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IT TURNED GREEN STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR JUMPED AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GO ABOUT A 100 YARDS INTO A SIDE STREET. WAS MET BY LOCAL POLICE. GOT TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER. AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED DROVE OUT OF THE DEALER BUT NOTICED THAT A DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. 2) APPROXIMATELY MAY 2, 2014 THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED AGAIN BUT THE CAR KEPT RUNNING. DROVE TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, TURNED ON THE IGNITION KEY IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN NOT EVEN TO CRANK THE MOTOR. GOT TOW TRUCK AND TOWED IT BACK TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER. AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE DOUBLE CHECKED, THEN DROVE OUT OF THE DEALER. 3) APPROXIMATELY MAY 20, 2014 WAS GOING DOWN HILL HIT A SMALL BUMP CAUSING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO GO ON THE CAR STALLED, ROLLED THE REST OF THE WAY DOWN HILL AND PUSHED IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I TRIED MYSELF TO FIX IT. PULLED OFF THE MAIN FUZE COVER AND PULLED OUT SOME FUZES THIS BROUGHT BACK SOME POWER TO RESTART THE CAR. THE FUZES WERE APPARENTLY TO THE AIR BAGS BUT GAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE THE ENGINE RUN. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ELECTRICAL REPAIR SPECIALIST. DROVE IT TO THERE LOT. WAS ASKED DETAILED QUESTIONS ON HOW I GOT THERE. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BUT WITH PROBLEMS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT PROTECTED IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WAS ADVISED TO GET A SPLASH GUARD. BUT WENT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT. FOUND THAT IT WOULDN'T DO MUCH GOOD AND NONE EXIST TO COMPLETELY PROTECT IT. THE CAR RUNS FINE NOW BUT HAZARDOUS. I BELIEVE I SHOULDN'T BE PAYING REPAIR BILLS FOR THIS FAULT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10669163

Incident

Apr 28, 2014

Mileage

106,689 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 3/12/15 THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 25 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY, LOST POWER AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND EVENTUALLY RE-STARTED IT. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE ISSUED TWO MORE TIMES. UPDATED 04/02/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10668712

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi