2009 Dodge Caliber Body & structure Problems

● Component failed: Front and Rear Subframe. ● Safety at risk: Rotting Subframe. The front subframe had a recall which expired a couple years ago, which I was never notified about. I have replaced this part because it could have fallen out of my car due to the rotting. Now, the rear subframe is now rotting and unstable/unfit to drive. I have 88,000 miles on it and keep in the garage when possible. ● The vehicle and component has been inspected by the manufactorer as well as Monro Auto Service, Jiffy Lube and L&M Motors in Upstate New york regularly. ● No.

NHTSA ID

11497535

Incident

Dec 2, 2022

It started as a popping noise while driving which evolved into a louder sound and I was able to feel it click with my feet as I was driving, and I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was causing the issue at first. After going to a mechanics and having them look at it the subframe of the car was absolutely covered in rust to the point where it was falling apart and I could see inside. The air conditioning unit was badly designed, and the residual water from that caused the entire thing to rust. They advised that it was only going to get worse and could lead to the front axle essentially just falling out and totaling the car anyways. I drive everyday to and from work so having this issue is severely affecting my daily life and quite possibly my safety if anything happens while driving it.

NHTSA ID

11484985

Incident

Sep 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The vehicle had previously had the front subframe replaced under an unknown TSB. The contact stated that upon inspection, her son informed her that the rear subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was 155,946.

NHTSA ID

11457010

Incident

Mar 16, 2022

Mileage

155,946 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that upon taking her vehicle to an independent mechanic for a state inspection, she was informed that the rear subframe was severely corroded. The contact was informed that the corrosion had caused a significant hole to form on the rear subframe which could cause a severe failure while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that she would receive a callback. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 64,049.

NHTSA ID

11440918

Incident

Nov 18, 2021

Mileage

64,049 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel started vibrating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was caused by a corroded K-frame on the vehicle. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was not included in the 10-year extended warranty due to the manufacture on date. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11432473

Incident

Jan 27, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , ALMOST WRECKED

NHTSA ID

11351497

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

Mileage

201,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION HIMSELF, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KAYSER CHRYSLER DODGE (866 PHILLIPS BLVD, SAUK CITY, WI 53583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT EXTENDED THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DECLINED REPAIRS BASED ON THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *BF

NHTSA ID

11242233

Incident

Jul 24, 2019

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR CROSS MEMBERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO DETACH. ADDITIONALLY, THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT CALLED WALLY ARMOR DODGE (1950 W STATE ST, ALLIANCE, OH 44601, (330) 823-3556) AND DAY STAR CHRYSLER (206 S CARROLLTON ST, MALVERN, OH 44644, (330) 863-1144) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11218502

Incident

May 23, 2019

Mileage

74,000 mi

THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. I CALLED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE. ATTACHED IS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH STATES THIS SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE WILL COST 1700 DOLLARS THATS THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES OR DEATH IF IT BREAKS WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU CANT HELP PLEASE HELP ME FIND THE HELP I NEED.

NHTSA ID

11205462

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RETAINED WATER AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED MOLD TO DEVELOP. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD RETAINED WATER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOW THE ORIGIN OF THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 275,000. .*BF. CONSUMER STATED WHEN IT RAINS THE WATER SPLASHES FROM PLASTIC STIPPING INSIDE WHIT IT MEETS THE HEADLINER ON THE SIDE.*JB

NHTSA ID

11184157

Incident

May 8, 2018

Mileage

275,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND ABOUT TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CENTER HOTLINE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11092185

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND STOPPING, GOT HOME THINKING THE STRUT WAS BROKEN AND FOUND THAT THE SUB-FRAME FOR ENGINE, SWAY BAR AND TIRE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY ROTTED AND CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE READY TO BREAK IN TWO. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MILEAGE 91K.

NHTSA ID

11083862

Incident

Apr 8, 2018

Mileage

91,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. TOLD THAT THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER. WAS THEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER AUTHORIZED IT. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL RUST FOUND THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. INFORMED THAT THIS DECISION COULD BE EXPECTED IN 2 TO 3 WEEKS. WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER AND TRANSPORTATION WHILE THEY WAITED FOR A DECISION. STILL WAITING.

NHTSA ID

11083448

Incident

Apr 3, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

RUSTED THROUGH SUBFRAME

NHTSA ID

11023928

Incident

Sep 7, 2017

SUBFRAME ROTTEN/RUSTY!!!! I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND MY CAR START MAKING WEIRD CRANKING NOISE AND IT'S PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE WHEEL STRAIGHT IT'S CLEARLY SHOWING IT HALFWAY TO THE RIGHT. IT'S DRAGGING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRES AND IT'S HARD TO CONTROL. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I CAN MAKE IT HOME WITHOUT ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT UNDERNEATH THE SUBFRAME IS ALL ROTTEN/RUSTY AND FALLING APART. MY CAR IS 2009, IT'S ONLY 8 YRS OLD. THERE'S SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW BAD IT GOTTEN. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT FIX.

NHTSA ID

11001541

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

11000545

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

THE K FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED FROM RUST.

NHTSA ID

10992094

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND THE SUPPORTING SUB-STRUCTURE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10957742

Incident

Apr 8, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE SUBFRAME CRADLE WAS ROTTED SEVERELY, FRONT AND BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10949798

Incident

Jan 16, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED, SEVERELY RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10937898

Incident

Dec 24, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

ATTEMPTED TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON 12/19/2016 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME/SUBFRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED/CORRODED AND NEEDS REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10936566

Incident

Dec 19, 2016

Mileage

154,133 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBERS UNDER THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10929442

Incident

Nov 28, 2016

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,150.

NHTSA ID

10917841

Incident

Oct 14, 2016

Mileage

66,150 mi

MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER STARTED EMITTING SOME TERRIBLE SOUNDS WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN THE CITY YESTERDAY (10/20/2016). THIS OCCURRED WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING OVER ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH ROAD. STEERING AND BRAKING WERE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED. AFTER STOPPING I LIFTED IT UP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER STABILIZER BAR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE BOLTS HADN'T SIMPLY COME LOOSE; THE SECTION OF THE SUBFRAME TO WHICH THE STABILIZER BAR ATTACHES HAD TORN AWAY. THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR YET I CAN BASICALLY POKE HOLES THROUGH THE SUBFRAME WITH MY FINGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917812

Incident

Oct 20, 2016

Mileage

93,325 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE RIGHT FRONT COLLAPSED FORCING ME OFF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAY, PASSING ANOTHER CAR OR AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE FRONT FRAME HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND COLLAPSED THE SUSPENSION. IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THE FRAME IS POORLY DESIGNED OR CONSTRUCTED. POSSIBLY BOTH. AT ANY RATE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I NOTIFIED CHRYSLER IN JULY AND OTHER THAN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. KINDLY ADVISE ME IF THERE IS ANY ACTION THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN TAKE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10916846

Incident

Jul 16, 2016

Mileage

116,024 mi