2010 Dodge Caliber Suspension Problems

I was just at the dealer mechanic for an oil change and asked about a slight pull to one side when stopping. after doing the oil change he cam back with a list of things the most significant of which was a that the front sub-frame was rotted out, as well as the rear bumper metal under the plastic cover. They gave me an estimate for the repairs exceeding $7000. Then I came home an researched this problem and find its common on these calibers from 2007-2012 and is a known problem!? but no recall was ever issued! There was a "Customer Satisfaction Notification X69" Which I never received. I have also had the vehicle into the dealer other times recently and was never informed of this issue which couldn't have possibly happened over night.

NHTSA ID

11697050

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

Severe rust to vehicle frame COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE, no accident. Rust has corroded frame despite normal use and normal care. Vehicle hasn't reached 75k miles yet, and the frame is failing. How is this not a recall?

NHTSA ID

11619984

Incident

Oct 15, 2024

The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at various speeds, she heard an abnormal sound and felt a vibration in the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that he had also noticed the failure while test-driving the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear cross member was severely rusted and had fractured. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,200.

NHTSA ID

11581302

Incident

Mar 26, 2024

Mileage

77,200 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while making a right turn at 10 MPH, the vehicle kept turning. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot where it was observed that the passenger’s side front axle had separated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cross member needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11553074

Incident

Oct 25, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

Subframe rusty and broke while driving car went left almost causing a head on coalition

NHTSA ID

11521788

Incident

May 11, 2023

Noticed the vehicle was making creaking and grinding sounds from the rear suspension. This forcing the car to struggle to reverse. Noticed a large portion of the rear suspension/subframe was rusted and was cracking.

NHTSA ID

11475585

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

I took my car to my repair man he was trying to see why my tires had the steel treads showing and the car shaking. Once up on the lift he found the subframe was rusted out. He ordered a new frame which took all my savings. He was surprised I made it off the expressway without an accident.

NHTSA ID

11457378

Incident

Mar 12, 2022

I forgot to tell you that the control arms on both sides and lower ball joints on both sides went bad because of the rotted frame on the car where the A frame sits is loose because of the rotted frame I grew up at the beach area and we never had rotted frames on any of the cars that we had dodge should have told people about the rotted frames and they are responsible that's how I feel about it what's it going to take for them to be held accountable people don't need to die or get serious injured because they did nothing about the rotted frames they should have been able to recall the cars they sold and said something about the frames getting rotted

NHTSA ID

11451629

Incident

Feb 3, 2022

I went to mavis to get new tires for my car they showed me the frame car is not repairable and they showed me the back frame under neith the car and also showed me the rotted frame that's 2 places that's rotted I hope dodge dealer will replace the rotted frames some one can get killed because of the rotted frames and I think dodge should recall the cars and put new frames on their cars for free

NHTSA ID

11451624

Incident

Feb 12, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,807.

NHTSA ID

11413988

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

186,807 mi

I NOTICED ON MY 2010 DODGE CALIBER THAT MY FRAME THAT ATTACHES JUST BEHIND THE OIL PAN IS REALLY RUSTY!! I THINK IT IS FROM THE PLACEMENT OF THE AC DRAIN HOSE POINTS DOWN RIGHT ON TOP OF IT. IT HAS SLOWLY DETERIORATE OF THE YEARS FROM RUNNING AC THESE LAST FEW HOT SUMMERS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR DON'T WANT IT TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11404589

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT WITH VISIBLE HOLES. MANUFACTURER ONLY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DID NOT ISSUE RECALL. I JUST FOUND OUT AND TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER COSTS. TONS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AS IT IS LISTED AS FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION (X69 WARRANTY EXTENSION) - 2008-2012 DODGE CALIBER & JEEP COMPASS/PATRIOT> TONS OF OWNERS ARE FURIOUS AND TRYING TO GET HELP ON THIS SERIOUS ISSUE THAT CAN EASILY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AND EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11387015

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS) AT MAGUIRE DODGE RAM OF SYRACUSE (959 HIAWATHA BLVD W, SYRACUSE, NY 13204, (844) 327-8693) THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11385258

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

78,000 mi

OK SO LET ME START BY SAVING LIVES THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE CALIBER THE SUBFRAMES ARE ROTTING IN HALF I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE 3 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS STUPID CAR AND THEY RUSTED IN HALF ON THEM ALSO THINGS TO ADD TO THIS CAR IS THERE IS NO UPPER BALL JOINT WHICH CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO GO BAD IS THE SHOCKS ARE BAD I HAD TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CVT 20K MILES INTO THIS HUNK OF CRAP CVT IS BAD AND THE BANDS THEY USE ARE CHEAP BUT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COOLING PROBLEM WITH THERE SET UP FOR TRANSMISSION WITH CAUSE THEM TO HEAT UP AND BURN FLUIDS CHRYSLER SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS CRAP AND HONESTLY YOU WILL SEE ALOT MORE OF THESE CARS CAUSING PEOPLE TO DIE SERIOUSLY TAKE A LOOK ONLINE AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES IT'S PRETTY SICKING TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL AIN'T DOING YOUR JOB MY 30 YEAR OLD CAMARO SUBFRAME NEVER ROTTED LIKE THIS AND SAT AND DRIVEN IN ALL WEATHER

NHTSA ID

11373191

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

178,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR SON WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME WAS REPAIRED, THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS REPAIRED, AND THE VEHICLE RECEIVED AN ALIGNMENT. THE REPAIRS WERE RELATED TO MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION WITH NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10140027 (SUSPENSION, STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE REPAIRS BEING COMPLETED OUTSIDE OF AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THERE WOULD BE NO REIMBURSEMENT. A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11316288

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE FRONT LOWER LEFT BALL JOINTS, CONTROL ARM. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WHOLE YEAR. I DID NOT A WARNING SIGN. I WENT TO GET NEW TIRES AND A FRONT ALIGNMENT, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO DUE TO, THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARM.

NHTSA ID

11228993

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

164,000 mi

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, REPAIR TECHNICIAN REPORTED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. I HAVE NOW READ SEVERAL DUPLICATIONS OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIND IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE NHTSA TAKES NOTE OF THIS COMMON AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME ELEMENT IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS VEHICLE. SINCE MY WIFE DRIVES THE 2012 VERSION, I WILL BE HAVING HER CAR'S SUBFRAME CHECKED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID

11208297

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER FRAME, STRUTS, BUSHINGS & SWAY BAR. TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. MECHANIC INSPECTED CAR & NOTICED SEVERE RUSTING ON FRONT CROSS MEMBER. SO, BAD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL FROM DODGE THAT HAD EXPIRED IN 2018. I NEVER SAW THIS RECALL NOTICE. I DID GET THE AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE & TOOK MY CAR RO DODGE TO FIX IN SPRING 2018. THEY COULD HAVE FIXED THE CROSSMEMBER AT THAT TIME. THE MECHANIC ALSO HAD TO REPLACE STRUTS, BUSHING & SUSPENSION STABILIZER SWAY BAR AS A RESULT OF THE RUSTED SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER.

NHTSA ID

11181599

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

88,116 mi

WHILE PURCHASING TIRES MECHANIC NOTICED, BOTH FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAMES ARE CORRODING TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11176002

Incident

Feb 2, 2019

Mileage

144,000 mi

MY SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT AFFECTING MY STEERING. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE SINCE I ALMOST LOST ALL CONTROL. SINCE MY CAR CAME FROM A SALT STATE THE SUBFRAME IS BEING REPLACED DUE TO A WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM DODGE, HOWEVER THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THEY HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO THR INCORRECT SUPPORT OF THE SUBFRAME. DODGE REFUSES TO FIX THIS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11121584

Incident

Aug 12, 2018

Mileage

132,000 mi

FRAME WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS ON RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED. WHEEL ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUDDENLY LOST ALIGNMENT WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A ROAD IN LANSING. I'M LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME COMPLETELY OFF AS I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS WITH MANY TURNS IN EAST LANSING.

NHTSA ID

11079948

Incident

Mar 17, 2018

Mileage

120,560 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE, THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, AND THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,009.

NHTSA ID

10992231

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

11,009 mi

ON 10/5/2016, THE SUB FRAME ON MY CAR BROKE DUE TO IT BEING RUSTED THROUGH. THANK GOODNESS IT BROKE WHEN I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED, AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAD TO BE TOWED AND IT WAS PUT ONTO A LIFT. THE GARAGE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR'S SUB FRAME, WHICH WAS BROKEN AND RUSTED COMPLETELY, BUT THE REST OF THE CAR IS PERFECT, NOT A SPECK OF RUST. WHEN I CALLED THE DODGE CORPORATION NUMBER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS, ONLY PRIOR YEARS, WHICH HAS THE SAME PART! I WAS TOLD THAT I LIVE IN A HIGH CORROSION AREA, DUE TO SALT ON OUR ROADS IN THE WINTER. IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN WHY IS THIS THE ONLY PART IN THE CAR THAT IS RUSTED? I WAS CHARGED $1032.86 FOR THE NEW PART TO BE INSTALLED, AND IT ALSO HAD TO BE ALIGNED. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND SEEN A NUMEROUS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER PEOPLE. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER EMPLOYEES STATED THAT THEY SEE THIS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY!

NHTSA ID

10915492

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

65,100 mi

WHEN ITS RAINS IT LEAKS FROM THE SUNROOF INTO THE LIGHT. STRUTS ARE OUT ABS LIGHT ON BRAKES HAVE BEEN FIXED

NHTSA ID

10789069

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ADJUSTABLE CONTROL ARMS OF THE VEHICLE WERE WELDED TO THE VEHICLE AND FAILED TO ADJUST. AS A RESULT, THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES BECAME WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ADJUSTABLE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,900.

NHTSA ID

10745244

Incident

Dec 20, 2014

Mileage

30,900 mi