2011 Dodge Caliber Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds coming from the undercarriage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the undercarriage needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11564852

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

Mileage

120,000 mi

I just bought this vehicle July 28 of 23. It was supposed to have been inspected to be sold. It’s completely rusted out the whole bottom of the car it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve been told by three people the people that did the inspection and said it was OK, and then Belle tire, which I tried to get a Alignment for him because it’s so bad and separating. I can’t get an alignment it hydroplanes and back in bounces up and down and it’s not for me to drive. I’m [XXX] and I need a good safe vehicle and I need something done with this or someone to take it back so that I can get a different car that is safe for me to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11561653

Incident

Dec 23, 2023

At 140000 miles I noticed that my entire subframe was ready to completely collapse and no auto shop would work on it whatsoever. I reached out and found out that there was nothing I could do about it It I had the car for 2 years and it’s had this issue the whole time Not cool safety should be first.

NHTSA ID

11544217

Incident

Sep 8, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound coming from the driver's side front wheel well while turning left or driving over bumps in the roadway. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front frame members were rusted, and the driver’s side front steering arm had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact stated that the mechanic was aware of a known manufacturer failure about the severe rusting of the frame. The failure mileage was 111,102.

NHTSA ID

11512879

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

Mileage

111,102 mi

2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet - Subframe is completely rotted and broke away from the sensor control. Mileage - 121,000. $2,500 to repair, in the shop for 9 days, $800 for a rental. Never again with a Dodge. They are garbage. And from research, I see that many other people are having the same issue, yet no recall and Dodge refuses to acknowledge!

NHTSA ID

11501241

Incident

Jan 9, 2023

Rotted Subframe on Dodge Caliber I was driving home after picking my kids up from school and my front tires would not steer and were wobbling while driving, losing control of my vehicle. I had to pull over on the side of the road so I did not crash with my children in the car. I called a tow company and had it towed to the closest independent service center. Yes, the problem was reproduced by a local mechanic ASE certified that the car is not driveable because the subframe was completely rotted out and needed to be replaced. No, the car is still at the garage and not inspected by manufacturer, police or insurance. There were no warning lamps, message or other symptoms prior to the failure. There were no issues driving to school and driving home it began to be hard to steer and then starting losing control over the vehicle and keeping it on the road. I slowed and pulled over to the side of the road and called a tow truck immediately. I was not going to take the chance of driving any further with my children and crash.

NHTSA ID

11468433

Incident

Jun 3, 2022

I started having noise problems with my car and also had inspection due so I brought it into a mechanic and he was horrified to see that my front cross member was so rusted that my sway bar came out and he said lucky my wheels didn’t come off and that a car accident would be horrible as it is that rusted , and he also stayed the back cross member is the same . This is a huge safety concern specially where my car itself isn’t even rusted only the cross members. I hope you can help me and my family so we can be safe . Thank you Richard

NHTSA ID

11458072

Incident

Mar 23, 2022

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO SUBURBAN TIRE ON 02.06.21 FOR A STEARING WHEEL SHACKING ISSUE.IT WASN'T TILL AFTER IT WAS FIXED THAT I STILL HAD ISSUES. BROUGHT IT BACK AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE FRONT SUB FRAME AS RUSTED OUT AND CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 3 MONTHS AGO. WHY???? THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR MY FAMILY ALL BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE NOT DO A RECALL!!!!! VERY ANGRY AND NOW I DON'T HAVE $2-$3K TO GET IT FIXED!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11416572

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

Mileage

77,000 mi

SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT ON A 2011 DODGE CALIBER DRIVER SIDE - HAD TO REPLACE ALONG WITH A ARMS RUSTED OUT. MADE HORRIBLE NOISE AND WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN. DEALERSHIP WANTED OVER $3000 TO FIX. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A RUSTED SUBFRAME FOR THE YEAR IT IS

NHTSA ID

11363928

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, A POP SOUND WAS HEARD AND THERE WAS SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS CLOSING FOR THE DAY. THE TECHNICIAN CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME ROTTED OUT AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DODGE DEALER LOCATED AT 7400 S. WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ID

11328380

Incident

Jun 10, 2020

Mileage

119,000 mi

SUBFRAME HAS ROTTED OUT WHILE THE WAS IN MOTION ( WHILE DRIVING). *TR

NHTSA ID

11328363

Incident

Jun 10, 2020

Mileage

11,900 mi

SUBFRAME IS SO RUSTY IT HAS CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327557

Incident

May 27, 2020

Mileage

150,071 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER PLATE WAS RUSTED OUT. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DODGE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11296933

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER HAD HOLES AND CRACKS, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11289397

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

SUBFRAME - THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT WITH LARGE HOLES THROUGHOUT IT. APPARENTLY, IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. NOR, IS THIS DEFECT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND A RECALL HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ID

11243426

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

RUSTED OUT SUB-FRAME. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR, IT'S HAD ALL OF IT'S SERVICING DONE PRIOR AT DODGE DEALERS AND NO MENTION OF RUSTED OUT SUB-FRAME. WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING WHEN MY TIRE SEIZED THEN STARTED TO WOBBLE WHILE IN 45MPH TRAFFIC ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AND PARK BEFORE GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT! IT'S NOW SITTING AT MY MECHANIC'S SHOP WAITING ON AN INVESTIGATION AND PRICING. THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE! THIS SUB-FRAME RUSTING OUT THIS QUICKLY IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE! I'M COLLECTING PICTURES AND STATEMENTS FROM MY MECHANIC AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND WILL CONTACT THE PRESS IF I HAVE TO!!

NHTSA ID

11240324

Incident

Jul 29, 2019

Mileage

127,000 mi

I CAME TO VISIT MY SON FOR A SPRING BREAK IN WEST VIRGINIA AND I HAVE NOTICED/HEATED A VERY LOUD NOISE. I ASKED MY SON WHAT IS THAT LOUD NOISE? I MADE AN OCULAR INSPECTION UNDER THE CAR AND FOUND VERY ROTTEN CONDITION SUB-FRAMES. I IMMEDIATELY VERY WORRIED AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST CAR SERVICE REPAIR TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROTTEN SUB-FRAMES. I NOTICED THE CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING TO THE SHOP EVEN AT A LOW SPEED. THE MECHANIC EMMEDIATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE SUB-FRAMED IS SO ROTTEN AND WORRIED IT WOULD COLLAPSE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE SUB/FRAMES BE REPLACED. THE MECHANICS CALLED PART SUPPLIER TO ORDER NEEDED SUB-FRAME PARTS. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR SUB-FRAMES AND SUGGESTED TO BRING MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DODGE SERVICE CENTER IN MORGANTOWN WEST VIRGINIA. AGAIN IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING DRIVING THE CAR TO URSE FIDGE AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. I DISCOVERED THAT MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS: S60 AND X69. I LEFT MY CAR ST DODGE SERVICE FOR NECESSARY REPAIR. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR IS THE ENGINE LOSING POWER WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING TO WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY. I WAS DRIVING AND FOLLOWING MY SON'S AND SUDDENLY HE DROVE HIS CAR ALONG THE SIDE ROAD. I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST RESTING BUT FOUND LATER WHEN ARRIVED ST THE UNIVERSITY THAT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALONG I-68. THIS REALLY CONVENED ME ALSO BECAUSE IT IS LIFE THREATENING. THE THIRD ISSUE I EXPRIENCED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IS THE BRAKE. BREAK BOUNCED BACK AND DOESN'T STOPPED INSTANTLY. THIS REALLY CONCERNED ME SI MUCH ALSO. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAFETY CONCERN OF THIS CAR WHICH CAN CAUSE LIVES. I'M REALLY AFRAID DRIVING THIS CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT DODGE COMPANY MUST NEED TO BUY-OUT THE CARS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO PREVENT INJURIES AND PRESERVE LIVES.

NHTSA ID

11187200

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE PULLED IN WHATEVER DIRECTION THE TIRES TURNED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11153398

Incident

Nov 13, 2018

Mileage

142,000 mi

WHILE LOOKING AT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY 2011 DODGE CALIBER, FLAKES OF BLACK PAIN PEELING OFF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FRONT SUBFRAME THAT PROVIDES STRUCTURE FOR IMPORTANT COMPONENTS SUCH AS ENGINE MOUNTING AND SUSPENSION AND STEERING IS BEING SUCCUMBED TO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM AND STRANGELY THIS SUBFRAME WHICH A "CERTIFIED MOPAR MECHANIC" WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT JUST TO DRAIN THE OIL APPEARED TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. LISTEN, ANY COMPETENT HUMAN KNOWS RUST JUST DOESN'T APPEAR ON A CARS UNDER CARRIAGE OVERNIGHT BUT SOMEHOW IN MY CASE IT HAPPENED TO BE WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRES.

NHTSA ID

10930087

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE MIST WITHIN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED WATER LEAKAGE IN THE REAR HATCH AS WELL AS A BUILD UP OF WATER WITHIN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10734639

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

38,000 mi

I HAVE A DODGE 2011 CALIBER..I RECENTLY BOUGHT IT BACK ON MAY 4,2011..WITHIN ONE WEEK I HAD A WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I WENT TO GO AND MY CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I HAD CARS BEHIND ME SO I STARTED MY CAR UP AGAIN AND IT WENT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME "DON'T BRING IT IN LETS DO A TIME SPAN TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN." TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I WAS TAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A STREET AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I TOOK IT IN TO THEM THE NEXT DAY. THEY HAD IT FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND SAID THEY CODED THE ABS MODULE AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE MY LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. SO THEY WENT AHEAD AND PUT A NEW ONE IN. SO I GOT IT BACK ON THE MONDAY AND ON THE FRIDAY I WAS TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY CAR CUT OFF AGAIN. THAT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE GOING TO UPDATE MY SOFTWARE. AS OF RIGHT NOW I REALLY DO NOT WANT THAT CAR BACK. IT IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO HAVE IT IF THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS ACCORDING TO LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10417801

Incident

May 25, 2011

Mileage

200 mi