Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Caliber submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
WHILE GOING 45 MPH CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULD IDLE AT 1.5 STOPPED IN NEUTRAL. LOST ALMOST ALL POWER. MERELY CAUSED A COLLISION. *TR
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
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
MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.4L TURBO JUST GOT THROTTLE BODY ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH LIKE NORMAL AND MY CAR STARTED GOING BERSERK, HAD TO TURN IT OFF WHILE PARKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SEEMS DANGEROUS I KNOW THIS CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT, TRAIN WAS COMING SO I WAS HOLDING MY BRAKES. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS JERKING FORWARD NOT WITH ALOT OF POWER BUT ENOUGH FOR ME TO NOTICE. I LOOK AT MY DASH AND I NOTICED THAT A REDLIGHT THAT SEEM TO BE RED LIGHTING BOLTS WAS ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULL MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD I NOTICE IT WAS SLOWLY ACCELERATING MY CAR DIDN'T GO PASS 20MPH. I PARKED THE CAR AND WAITED TO SEE IF I COULD JUST TRY TO DRIVE IT HOME WHICH WAS ONLY 1.5 MILES AT THE MOST AWAY. I HAD NO ISSUES BESIDES THE CAR WOULDN'T GO PASS 20MPH AND WHEN IT STALLED IT SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD JERK FORWARD, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HOME. BEFORE THAT DAY I HAD NO ISSUES. *TR
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2008. DECEMBER 24TH 2013 AT ONLY 43,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH WASN'T COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY $367 TO HAVE FIXED. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION & WHEN I SPOKE WITH DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERSHIPS I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S JUST A GLITCH THAT HAPPENS TO SOME CARS BUT NOBODY COULD TELL ME WHY AT 43,000 MILES I WAS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR REPAIR! ALSO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FIXED THE CAR SAID THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER IT COULD TAKE UP TO 3 MONTHS TO GET PART CAUSE EVIDENTLY THE PART WAS IN HIGH DEMAND. THAT TELLS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY GOIN ON WITH DODGE VEHICLES. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER TO SEE IF A RECALL SHOULD HAPPEN! I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER DODGE NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE CARS ARE HORRIBLY MADE BUT THERE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY (I EVEN CONTACTED THE DODGE CO. & GOT NOWHERE) AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PURCHASED. I WANTED TO SUPPORT & BUY AMERICAN BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT MAYBE BY BUYING FOREIGN WILL GET A RELIABLE CAR! *TR
CAR WAS ALREADY WARMED AND DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION TO REFUEL AND RE-STARTING, IT WAS IDLING VERY INCONSISTENTLY AND RUNNING ROUGH, SHAKING. THERE WAS A DASH INDICATOR FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL FLASHING. I TRIED DRIVING IT AND THERE WAS JERKING AND PULLING AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT PAST 2ND, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 12-15 MPH. I MADE IT HOME (ABOUT 2 MILES) AND LEFT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS. UPON RESTARTING AND WARMING, THE CAR DROVE FINE. ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER, THE SAME DASH LIGHT CAME ON, STEADY NOT FLASHING, CAR RUMBLED, THEN LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR WAS FINE. THIS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN, WHEN READY TO LEAVE FROM WORK ONE DAY, I STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH, IDLE WAS FLUCTUATING BETWEEN ABOUT 500-1500 RPMS AND SHAKING. I LEFT THE CAR, ASSUMING WHEN I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD START AND BE FINE JUST LIKE THE 2 TIMES BEFORE, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY MECHANIC, MAXING OUT AT ABOUT 15 MPH, STRANGELY THE CAR SEEMED TO PICK UP SPEED WHEN I EASED OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND STEADY LOSS OF SPEED WHILE GOING UP HILL. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIX OR EVEN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, SAID IT HAS TO GO TO THE DEALER. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL. I WILL UPDATE IT ONCE I HEAR FROM THE DEALER LATER TODAY. *TR
MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 DODGE CALIBER WHEN ACCELERATION WAS LOST. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHEN SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT FUEL AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM LIKE CAME ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE WAS VERY SHAKEN BY THIS ORDEAL. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED THROUGH CARMAX, WITH A 300.00 DEDUCTIBLE, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD ONLY PAY 144.00 DOLLARS OF THE 647.00 TOTAL BILL. THE CAR HAS APPROX 70,000 MILES SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE THROTTLE SYSTEM WOULD BE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE NEEDLE INSIDE THE THROTTLE THAT FEEDS THE FUEL WAS DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN IT WENT OUT, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. I AM VOICING MY COMPLAINT ON THIS PART AND ALL BE WARE OF THE THROTTLE NEEDLE GOING BAD. I WILL ALSO MAKE THIS A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH DODGE AS WELL. *TR
WHILE OPERATING THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.0L ENGINE AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, THE CAR INSTANTLY STOPPED WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEN THE CAR WOULD GO FROM 7MPH TO 50MPH IN A RAPID ACCELERATION AND THEN BACK DOWN TO 7MPH. THIS WAS RATHER DANGEROUS AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES DESPITE HAVING MY EMERGENCY SIGNAL FLASHING LIGHTS ON AS WELL AS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE. THE CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BACK FIRING AND ONE LOUD EXPLOSION SOUNDED AS IF IT OCCURRED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND AN AUTO PARTS STORE LAST NIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE TECH THERE USE THE ODBII READER AND IT INDICATED THE ERROR P0132 WHICH IS THE OXYGEN SENSOR AS THE FAILING UNIT. THE FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE DODGE CALIBER WAS ALMOST IMPACTED BY OTHER CARS IN TRAFFIC AS THE OTHER CARS WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THE DODGE CALIBER TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE FROM 45MPH TO 7MPH. THE PART WAS REPLACED ASAP THE NEXT DAY WITH BOSCH PART # 15124 AND UPON TESTING FOR 20 MINUTES THE CAR OPERATED WITHOUT ERROR. I CALLED DODGE TO INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL OR WARRANTY WORK AND THEY DECLINED BOTH. IN REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY, I REQUEST THAT A CASE BE OPENED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND OTHERS LIKE IT. THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS TO HAVE DODGE RECALL THE O2 SENSORS AS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE CAN BE CATASTROPHIC WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS WITH TRAFFIC. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WITH AIRCHECK. LITTLE DID I KNOW I WAS BUYING A MORE DEFECTIVE CAR THAN I ORIGINALLY HAD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY A/C GOES TO CRAP I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT AND ALL HE SAYS IS I KNOW A GUY THAT CAN FIX IT FOR YOU FOR ALITTLE CHARGE. AND TO TOP IT OFF THE A/C GOES OUT ON THE HOTTEST FREAKING DAY OF THE MONTH. THEN MY ENGINE MAKES THIS RATTLING NOISE MY FREAKING RADIO DOESN'T ACCEPT CD'S WHAT KIND OF WHOLE DID I GET MY SELF INTO. AND FOR THIS CAR TO BE A 4 CYLINDER IT DRINKS GAS AS IF IT WHERE A V8. *TR
COMPLAINED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO THE STONE MOUNTAIN DODGE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL GAUGE. IT DOES NOT KEEP AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE FUEL IN MY FUEL TANK. UPON FILLING UP MY CAR ON FULL WITH FUEL, IT WOULD GIVE AN INACCURATE READING RIGHT AWAY. AS SOON AS I DROVE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I EXPLAINED THIS TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PART THAT MY CAR NEEDED, AND IT WAS ON ORDER AND WOULD BE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WOULD WAIT A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND RETURN TO THE DEALER, AND AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THE SAME STORY AGAIN, THAT THIS PART WOULD BE ORDERED, BUT NOW, THEY COULD NOT FIND A MANUFACTURER TO GET THE PART FROM, BUT THAT CORPORATE KNEW ABOUT THIS. ON VARIOUS VISITS TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS NEVER A RESOLUTION, AND FINALLY I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THEIR CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE. UPON CONTACT TO THEIR CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS OFFERED A DEAL FOR DODGE TO PAY TWO OF MY CAR NOTES, AND I HAD 30 DAYS TO ACCEPT. I DID NOT ACCEPT THAT OFFER BECAUSE THAT MEANT THAT THERE WAS STILL NO RESOLUTION IN FIXING MY CAR. WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR, IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON MY CAR, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AND LOOKED AT BY THEIR MECHANICS, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE BEFORE DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. TWO TO THREE MONTHS LATER IS WHEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM, AND I FEEL THAT THE DODGE DEALER LIED TO ME WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND LATER AGAIN, WHEN I WAS TOLD ON A CONSISTENT BASIS THAT A PART WAS COMING IN AND MY CAR WOULD BE FIXED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS FAIR TO ME AS A CONSUMER THAT I AM LITERALLY PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN LIED TO BY THEIR SERVICE PEOPLE, AND STILL NO RESOLUTION TO EITHER FIX MY CAR, OR TO EVEN GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR FOR THE SAME VALUE OF WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR. UPDATED 01/21/11
08 DODGE CALIBER SE. JUST RIDING DOWN THE ROAD . FUEL THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR QUITS RUNNING WHILE YOUR DRIVING. I WAS ON INTERSTATE. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CHRYSLER SAID IT COULD BE A FLUKE TO KEEP DRIVING IT. SOMEONE GOING TO GET HURT.. LUCKILY I WAS IN A LANE,WHERE I COULD JUST ROLL INTO EMERGENCY LANE. *TR
AFTER PURCHASING MY DODGE CALIBER IN FEBRUARY OR 2008 I NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY ACCURATE. IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 6 MONTHS FOR SCHAEFER AND STROHMINGER TO "FIX" IT. I CALLED THEM AFTERWARDS TO TELL THEM IT WAS BETTER BUT NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT AND THEY PUT ME OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE ENGINEER AND FOLLOW UP WITH ME. THAT NEVER HAPPENED EVEN AFTER THE CEO OF THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I MET THE LEMON LAW REQUIREMENTS. DURING THIS TIME THE CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN STARTING. I ALSO ASKED THEM ABOUT THAT PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING IT IN THE SHOP TWICE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I CALLED AHEAD TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE HE'D HAD SEVERAL OTHERS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY IN THE CALIBER. IT WAS THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY REPLACED IT. IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW AND THE CAR HAS HESITATED WHILE STARTING 4 TIMES ALREADY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FAULT IN THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE UNIT THEY ARE USING. FINALLY, I'M TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE WATER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND WET CARPET BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. I'M VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT PLAN ON BUYING FROM DODGE OR SCHAEFER AND STROHMINGER AGAIN. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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