NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Dodge Caliber. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
MY VEHICLE FOR MY YEAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION POWER CONTROL MODULE, I CALLED TO GET IT SORTED OUT AND EVERYONE TELLS ME MY SPECIFIC VIN DOES NOT MATCH ANY RECALLS, IRONICALLY MY CHECK GONE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THIS EXACT REASON. I WAS DRIVING AND FROM WHAT I EXPERIENCED THE CAR DID SHUT OFF AND I HAD TO RESTART IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
I BOUGHT MY CAR ABOUT A WEEK AGO WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DAY TREE WE BROUGHT IT HOME WHEN WE ARE DRIVING IT WILL START TO GO BACK AND FORTH, LIKE STALL/ CHUG FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN GO BACK WHILE IN MOTION, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SLOW OR FAST I'M GOING IT DOES IT WHENEVER I AM DRIVING. I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO JUST DIE AND GET IT FIXED I NEED THIS FIXED NOW AND I CAN NOW SEE AFTER RESEARCHING THERE ARE MANY 2009 DODGE CALIBERS ON RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MINE ISN'T AND I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY AND NEED THIS TO BE FIXED ASAP.
Rotting/rusting subframe. Not listed as a recall for this model year, but was for the previous years.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT BELT CHIME WAS AUDIBLE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED. IF THE SEAT BELT WERE HELD APPROXIMATELY TEN INCHES AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE CHIME WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SPECIFICALLY, IN MY MODEL SAFETY BELT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SECURELY FASTENED (I.E., CLICKED IN BUCKLE) IN ORDER FOR CHIME TO STOP. THIS IS A NO-NO. IN FACT, IF I HOLD THE UNSECURED BELT IN MY LEFT HAND WHILE HOLDING THE WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHIME WILL STOP. IF, HOWEVER, I LET IT RETRACT SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE WINDOW, THE CHIME WILL COME BACK ON. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. ONLY WHEN BELT IS FULLY BUCKLED SHOULD THE CHIME CEASE. WHILE THIS DOES NOT POSE A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, IT CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED.
SUBFRAME ROTTED AWAY. CAUSING THE DRIVERS SIDE A-ARM TO RIP OUT. THE WHEEL WAS AT AN APPROXIMATE 90 DEGREE ANGLE FROM NORMAL POSITION. CAUSED THE DRIVESHAFT TO PULL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP.
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS QUICKLY AND CAR LOSES POWER. AAMCO HAS REPLACED IT NUMEROUS TIMES. ADDED EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER. PROBLEM PERSISTS. SUSPENSION IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THIS CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN ELWAY'S CLAREMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (620 AUTO CENTER DR, CLAREMONT, CA 91711, (909) 962-7462) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
MY TRANSMISSION IS LUNGING FORWARD T ALL RATES OF SPEED
DURING AN OVERALL CHECK UP OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC FOUND RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME. HE ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT DRIVING IT FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS MAY BE PUSHING OUR LUCK.
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
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.
GOT OIL CHANGE & WAS TOLD MY FRAME WAS RUSTING BAD. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC TO PUT UP ON RACKS AND I LOOKED AT IT. HE SAID IT WAS GETTING VERY RUSTED, HAD HOLES, INCLUDING THE "ARMS" THAT CONNECTED TO WHEELS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS HAPPENING. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WON'T KEEP A CHARGE. I HAVE PUT TWO BATTERIES AND 3 ALTERNATORS ON. ALL DONE BY MECHANICS. THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. I HAVE RAN OUT OF MONEY DUE TO AN ILLNESS AND CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED BUT WILL HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE. I DO LIVE MY CAR AND IT WAS FINE AND JUST STARTED DRAINING THE BATTERY AND RUINING ALTERNATORS. MY CAR WAS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS DEAD AND HAD TO GET A JUMP TO GO TO WORK. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE MAY OF 2018. THANKS FOR READING THIS.
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.
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.
THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. A LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOUD NOISE FELT AND HEARD WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR WHILE TURNING . AFTER DOING MY OWN UNDER VEHICLE INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS MY FRIENDS SON'S CAR AND I RECOMMEND TO HIM NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY UNSAFE AND THAT HE COULD LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR.
WHEN ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE IS SLOW TO TAKE OFF WITH MAX SPEEDS OF ONLY 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND 30 MPH CITY. I HAVE PRESSED THE GAS ALL THE WAY AND CAR IS STILL LAGGING. THE CEL STAYS ON AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE READ P0722 WHICH IS TRANS OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR U1146 WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION ERROR P0717 WHICH IS INPUT SPEED SENSOR 1 CIRCUIT NO SIGNAL P0700 WHICH IS TRANSAXLE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND P0712 WHICH IS TRANS FLUID TEMP SENSOR LOW INPUT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO PERFORM A TCM SOFTWARE UPDATE AND ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING EVEN AFTER THE CODES WERE CLEARED. NOW A CODE IS READ THAT HAS TO DO WITH A LARGE EVAP LEAK. AM I BEING STEERED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION SO THAT THE DEALER CAN AVOID HONORING THE FACTORY RECALL OF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V528000. MY SPECIFIC VIN DID NOT SHOW UP AS BEING RECALLED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY ISSUE CAN BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. PLEASE HELP.
I TOOK MY WIFE'S 2009 CALIBER TO OUR MECHANIC BECAUSE SHE HEARD CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE INFORMED BY OUR MECHANIC THAT A PIECE OF FRAME STRETCHING ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE STEERING RACK AND SWAY BARS ATTACH TO THIS FRAME WORK. ALSO FRONT END COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE MAKES LOUD PLUNKING NOICES WHEN GOING OVER SMALL AND LARGE BUMPS AND MUCH WORSE WHEN HITTING POT HOLES. NO OTHER RUST IS APPARENT ON ANY FRAM WORK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY NINE YEARS OLD. I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY ODD FOR SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS MAY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE VERY SOON AND THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL THAT I AM UNAWARE OF.
SUBFRAME RUSTED CRACKS VERY DANGEROUS FREQUENT NOISES!
THE CVT TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING. TO DATE, I'VE HAD IT REPLACED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FOUR TIMES. ONCE AT 17000 MILES, AGAIN AT 92000 MILES, AGAIN AT 117000 MILES, AND NOW AT 135000 MILES. NO ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, YET EACH TIME THE SAME FAILURE MODE HAPPENS - WARM TEMPERATURE, LIMP MODE, AND EVENTUALLY A SCREAMING SOUND WITH NO ENGAGEMENT.
WHILE TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEED (WAS NAVIGATING THRU PARKING GARAGE), WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE PASSENGER SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED (NO ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT-FRONT SEAT AT THE TIME). THERE WAS NO IMPACT/CRASH (NOT EVEN A BUMP), THE AIRBAG JUST DEPLOYED BY-ITSELF. CONTACTED FIAT/CHRYSLER. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR/INSPECTOR FROM HOUSTON (2 HOURS AWAY). TO DOWNLOAD BOSCH AIRBAG COMPUTER DATA, AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. INVESTIGATOR SPENT TWO HOURS TAKING HUNDREDS OF PICTURES, MEASUREMENTS, ETC. NOTE: SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AS WE ARE TOLD THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS. FINALLY, AFTER REQUESTING MULTIPLE TIMES (AS OWNERS MANUAL SAYS WE ARE ENTITLED TO, FIAT/CHRYSLER PROVIDED INFO DOWNLOADED FROM AIRBAG COMPUTERS WITH CDR (CRASH DATA REPORT, EVEN THO THERE WAS NO CRASH). WE UNDERSTAND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT EVENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF THE VEHICLE SITTING, NOT BEING DRIVEN, THE REPORT SAYS THERE WAS [NO EVENTS RECOVERED]. SO... IT SOUNDS LIKE THE AIRBAG COMPUTER DIDN'T KNOW THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE AIRBAG/SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH, REMAINS ILLUMINATED, WITH NO IDEA, WHATSOEVER, CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. FIAT/CHRYSLER'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE: THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE CAN RENDER NO MORE ASSISTANCE WITH THE MATTER.
ENTIRE SUB FRAME IN FRONT IS ROTTED TO THE POINT VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE, DO OTHER RUSET IS VISIBLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SQUEAL WHEN DRIVING AND FRONT LEFT TIRE CLOSE TO FELL OFF
WE HAD TO HAVE A CONTROL ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINTS PUT IN OUR CAR AND OUR MECHANIC INFORMS US THAT THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED OUT PRETTY BAD AND WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT'S ONLY 8 YRS OLD I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR PLACE TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY NEITHER WE GOT THE CAR AT BOB SWOPE FORD IN ELIZABETHTOWN KENTUCKY WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THEM BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND COULD YOU PLEASE HELP US GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED IT WAS CHECKED BY SWOPE ON OR AROUND THE FIRST OF OCTOBER AND THEY DIDN'T SAY A WORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM
RUSTED THROUGH SUBFRAME
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.
TWO DAYS AGO I REALIZED WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IF I TURNED RIGHT MY STEERING WHEEL FELT AS THOUGH I HAD NO POWER STEERING. ROTATING THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER WAY, WAS CAUSING A LOUD CRACKING SOUND. WHEN TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC, WE CAME TO FIND THE ENTIRE RACK SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED/RUSTED. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE CAR, BECAUSE IT COULD BREAK AT ANY MINUTE. THE 07 CALIBER HAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AT ANY MOMENT IT COULD HAVE BROKE, AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE/INJURY. I'M ALSO PREGNANT SO CANNOT FEAR MY CAR ISN'T SAFER
I GO MY 09 LOVED IT BUT NOW I HAVE NO DASH LIGHTS, MY TURN SIGNALS IN THE REAR DON'T WORK, MY DRIVERSIDE HEAD LAMP DON'T WORK. I'VE READ EVERYTHING THERE IS ON THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. AN MOST OF THEM ARE IN WHOM EVER THE DESIGNERROR WAS OF THE COMPUTER BOARD IN THE DASH. AND THE TIPM FOR THE LIGHTS.
THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND I HAVE ORDERED A NEW ONE TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE.
THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED THROUGH.
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINS ON HIGH WAY THE TRANSMISSION HEATING LIGHT WILL APPEAR AND CAUSES THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MOLD UNTIL TRANS IS COOLED DOWN IT WILL NOT GO OVER 60 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPEND TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DODGE CALIBER DOES.
MIL LIGHT IS ON - TAKEN FOR SERVICE 3-TIMES - DEALER STATES THE TIPM BOX IS FAULTY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT - WHICH IT DID WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BUSY STREET, APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.
THE K FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED FROM RUST.
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.
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS INVOLVING THE THROTTLE BODY, PCM AND FUEL PEDDLE ALL WITH NO EFFECT ON THE ISSUE OF SHAKING, DYING, PERIODIC ENGINE LIGHT AND SAFETY CONCERN OVER THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER. NOW I'M TOLD IT'S PROBABLY THE COMPUTER. THE BUILD DATE FALLS WITHIN A SAFETY RECALL BUT I'M TOLD IT WON'T BE HONORED BECAUSE THE VIN ISN'T UNDER THE RECALL.
IT WAS RAINING AND AS IT WAS RAINING MY CAR STARTED TO BLINK ALL LIGHTS AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT AS I WAS DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT STARTED GOING CRAZY THE TACHOMETER WENT CRAZY AND SO DID MY SPEEDOMETER EVENTUALLY MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT THE ACCELORATOR WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. AND THAN EVENTUALLY IT JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER WHEN I TRIED TURNING THE CAR BACK ON.THE STARTED WOULDNT ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD START TILL I PUT UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND HOOKED IT BACK IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 12/25/2016 6/15/2017 AND AGAIN TODAY 11/3/2017 THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MY FATHER OWNED THE VEHICLE AS WELL BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
ATTEMPTED TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON 12/19/2016 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME/SUBFRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED/CORRODED AND NEEDS REPAIR.
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.
MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE 2007 AND 2008 CALIBERS IN THAT THE MAIN CROSSMEMBER IN THE FRONT STEERING/SUSPENSION HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE REST OF THE CAR IS RUST FREE BUT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS HAVE ROTTED OUT. THIS CAR WAS IN COLORADO SPRINGS FOR THE FIRST 4 YEARS OF ITS LIFE WHERE THEY DO NOT USE SALT AND MOVED TO VERMONT AFTER THAT. AT 59K MILES DODGE WILL NOT COVER THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM ON 2007 MODELS EXTENSIVELY. THERE ARE STORIES OF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES BUT DODGE IS STILL NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POOR QUALITY AND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INFERIOR STEEL PARTS. I HAVE BEEN A TECH IN THE AUTO AND TRUCK INDUSTRY FOR 40 YEARS AND AM DISGUSTED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF STORIES ONLINE ABOUT THESE AND MILLIONS OF CARS IN THE 2007-2009 YEARS THAT ARE FAILING. CAN WE ASK THAT NHTSA CALL THEM OUT ON THIS BEFORE THERE ARE MORE ACCIDENTS. I AM AFRAID THAT I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT IS CLEARLY A FAILURE ON DODGE THAT THEY ARE SO FAR SUCESSFULY HIDING FROM. ISSUES ALSO INCLUDE 2007 JEEPS AND STX VEHICLES.
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 5 MPH AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND FILED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
CUSTOMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR PA STATE INSPECTION. AND FRONT CROSS-MEMBER IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS 101,000 MILES ON IT, AND NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER THINKS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER 2007 - 2009 VEHICLES, BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM ON ALL THESE MODELS. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE FROM 60 TO 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITH NO ISSUES FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGONOISED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER VERIFIED THE DIAGNOSIS. THE PCM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
THE CROSS MEMBER/CRADLE/MODULE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN ONE SECTION AND SEVERE RUST/CORROSION ON MOST OF PART. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN FOR ROUTINE REPAIR WHEN INFORMED VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ISSUE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER.
SUMMARY: THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THINKING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC STATES THE THE FLUID NEDEDED CHANGED AND FOUND A FRONT CROSSMEMBER OF THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED APART NEXT TO THE SWAY BAR. THE 2007 MODEL HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO EXTEND IT 10 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CROSSMEMBER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO DO THIS WITH THE 2009 MODEL. OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED WITH SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS AND IS ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE TO THINK A VEHICLE THAT IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH NO OTHER RUST, SHOULD HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREMATURE CORROSION ON THE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800.
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