8.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$870
Average Mileage:
57,650 miles
Total Complaints:
79 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. had them replaced (58 reports)
  2. not sure (12 reports)
  3. replace tie rods and lower control arms (8 reports)
  4. should be a recall (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.

problem #79

Oct 182011

Caliber SXT 2.0L L4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Ball joints failed after 20K miles. Last Chrysler product I'll ever buy.

- Scott K., Oak Lawn, IL, US

problem #78

Aug 222016

Caliber SXT 2.0L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

Seems like everybody has the same issue(s) with their Caliber...the suspension. HORRIBLE design,i dont know if the body is too heavy for this sh*t suspension or what. My 2007 Caliber SXT has 120k miles. Recently,and pretty much all at the same time,the struts both blew out so the car was bouncing like crazy until i fixed them..replaced BOTH ball joints TWICE..replaced BOTH control arms and links. Im sure the tie rods or CV axle will be next,that seems to be the trend. The CVT transmission is garbage in this thing--costs anywhere from $3,000-$5,000 to replace,the exterior rusts quickly as well as the underbody,and the TIPM in this car...that f#cking TIPM,it pretty much possesses your car and messes with anything and everything electrical...it's about $1,000 to replace--that's if you can find one that's not back ordered for months. Dodge,congratulations..you built one of the shittiest cars ever made and are doing NOTHING about it to help the owners out with repairs..funny, it'd probably be cheaper to make a settlement rather than (most likely) losing every Dodge Caliber owner as a customer. Dodge,you f#cking fail.

- Andy K., West Allis, WI, US

problem #77

Apr 152014

Caliber 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 185,000 miles

Required to change the control arms in order to get a front end alignment. Parts of the car needed to be cut off with a torch to get them off. Fixed in the shop.

- Terry S., Southfield, MI, US

problem #76

Jun 152013

Caliber 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 170,000 miles

Driver side control arms, tie rods, and ball joints were replaced. Did the work myself to save money otherwise the cost would have been nearly double what I paid.

- Terry S., Southfield, MI, US

problem #75

Apr 162009

Caliber

  • CVT transmission
  • 36,000 miles

I was just over the 35,000 miles for it to be covered. This was an expense fix for a new vehicle

- gplsnow, Sanbornton, NH, US

problem #74

Apr 202012

Caliber R/T 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

Purchased this 2007 Dodge Caliber RT used from a local dealer, noticed it had some tire issues, the WOP WOP sound while driving, dealer said it was nothing and asked if we would lie them to replace the 2 tires that were making the noise. Without adding another $400 to the total, we said no and drove off with the car. Wife really liked it, it fit here great. After a few months we had the tires rotated again and again, noticed to get them to evenly wear with no dice. Started to notice a clunking noise under the feet and found the lower control arm bushings and ball joints going. Called local parts store for the replacement cost and found it less expensive to buy the entire new lower control arm and replace it.

It is now September 2015 and 139,000 miles on the car, replacing the lower control arms for the 3rd time. For the first time I'm replacing both inner tie rods and tie rod ends, Sway bar links and bushings. After this, we'll have the car aligned for the 2nd time since owning it. No body in 2010 informed us of having so many front end problems with this style car. The only good thing out of this horrible upkeep, is in the Ohio winters, the AWD pulls like a champion. This is one of the main reasons we purchased this car. I really don't have a great faith in the dealer that we purchased the car from, nor Dodge Brother engineers for the overall design of the front end components. This the first listing, more to come.

- Gary S., Lagrange, OH, US

problem #73

Oct 262014

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 83,885 miles

Lots of free play in front lower ball joint (again!)

- madpsintst, Waterloo, Ontario, canada

problem #72

Jun 012009

Caliber SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

Bought the car with remaining warranty because it was leased one year by a Dodge Dealer employee. had to get work done right away....ball joints and arms.... turned around in less than a year - same problem. Dodge changed my copay for warranty work. Oh and while it was in being repaired they broke my front driver and passenger seats which they refused to fix. I have had to have an alignment on this car every year since I bought it. new tires every other (I don't put many miles on it... it's still under 48,000)... now I am facing bushing repairs, struts and sway bar... had new brakes put on last year.. they continue to squeal since they've been put on and my front brakes are almost completely gone... I don't know about anyone else but when I stop... this car has a slight kick back..... yes, it really does! I will never buy another caliber. gas cap light always comes on and engine light... passenger seat belt light come on from time to time...doesn't matter if I have a passenger, my purse or empty. maybe i'll buy a ford next time.

- tonyaindiana, Nappanee, IN, US

problem #71

May 252014

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I have always wanted a Dodge Caliber from the first time I spotted it. I was at work on my brake a guy pulled up in a white caliber. SPOTTED IT * WANTED IT So finally about 7 yrs later my truck died & I needed a new car so I happened to be at Bruce Bennett NISSAN in Wilton,CT looking at a car for my daughter & spotted this ORANGE car that caught my eye it was a 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT. It had Orange down the middle of the front dashboard where the shift was also Orange down the center of all the cloth seats. PERFECT!!!!!! so went inside sat down filled out all the paperwork they did all they could for me to have the car few days later get a call that the car is mine & I can come pick it up. So I pick it up all excited drive it for about a few weeks start hearing noises from the front end so we bring it to the dealer they check & it's a loose sway bar so they fix that so now warranty is up & we still hear front end noises which we have been complaining about since the sway bar problem. Now find out we need both control arms & ball joints. I'm freaking out looking at all the complaints about this same problem & how often they are being repaired. I live pay check by pay check I can't afford this. Dodge really needs to take care of these issues, cause they are repeated problem from all different consumers with the same issue. I finally can afford to get my dream car but I'm screwed cause I won't be able to keep fixing it but I still have to pay the car loan for it. thanks nancypants525

- Nanconay A., Waterbury, CT, US

problem #70

Jul 292012

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I had my ball joints and control arms replaced in 2012 and 13 months later they were bad again. Garage worked with me and made a deal about the year warranty. So it was cheaper the second time. I spend a lot of money on tires. They never wear right. I think somethings up again because I hear crackling in the back of the car now. I told my sister in law to not buy the 2008 caliber but she did. Shes having all my problems but its happening quicker on her car!! Id never recommend this car, ever. Wheres the recall already??

- andipop007, Roaring Brook Twp, PA, US

problem #69

Dec 172009

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I made the mistake of buying this car a few years ago. I am die hard Mopar, but they didn't give me much to brag about with this pile. This car destroys tires and wobbles like a wooden wagon. I do the repair myself so i save a little but it's gotten to be a every couple month chore. Then there's the alignment charge. I'm ditching this car A.S.A.P!!!!! I would NOT recommend this car to anyone.

- moparmatt, Jerseyville, IL, US

problem #68

Sep 092012

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

I bought this car in January 2012 from a dealership. It's an 07' Dodge Caliber and when I bought it, it had 88,000 miles on it. I had the control arms replaced because of bad ball joints in September 2012. That was fine because stuff like that happens, it's a used car. My problem is, it is April 2014 and my ball joints are bad again. This will be the second time changing them since the first time in Sep. 12'. In less than two years, my ball joints have gone bad twice. I was told that everything else was fine, so nothing else is causing my ball joints to fail prematurely. This is ridiculous.

- brodanik, Blossvale, NY, US

problem #67

Nov 242013

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 34,419 miles

When putting vehicle on lift to take pictures of rusted out sub-frame, I had front end checked for play. The ball joints and tie rods were found to be worn out. The vehicle is only 6yrs old with less than 35000 miles. This is premature wear and this car should be recalled because of this safety issue.

- Darryl W., Duncansville, PA, US

problem #66

Dec 012009

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

This car and this particular issue has cost me so much in time, multiple (5 sets) of tires, and repair cost only to see the problem appear again and other issues with this suspension and tire destruction. I paid for this car in full and just did not want to create another bill but at this rate another bill would be cheaper than the fix.

Can you say, I will never purchase a product from this company again? They may think it is OK for them to ignore the complaints of what they consider a small insignificant amount of consumers but our complaints add up and we definitely can recommend that others stop fooling with you.

- Betty S., grayson, GA, US

problem #65

Feb 242014

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I am so upset to see so many complaints about the same problem I am having with my car!!! Really? Why has there not been a recall? I live paycheck to paycheck and to try to come up with $1000.00 is almost impossible!!! Life just gets harder and harder in this world!!! Step up DODGE and take responsibility for your defective products!!!

- ycart, Waupun, WI, US

problem #64

Oct 292011

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Ball joints replaced again with struts majorly leaking. I was in disbelief to have to pay this expense AGAIN. I literally was in the shop 1-2 times a month for alignment issues and major mechanic issues with this car.

- crankycaliber, Lenexa, KS, US

problem #63

May 242011

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 58,000 miles

This was the first occurrence. A year later, it is acting funny again.

- caliberisjunk, Springfield, OH, US

problem #62

Sep 142010

Caliber 2.0L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,077 miles

It's unacceptable to have to replace both control arms on a three year old car with 41k miles. I am not alone and these should be under recall. Dodge will not issue a recall because they will have to recall every single caliber ever made. It's all about the Benjamin's!!

- ehrcke, Mentor, OH, US

problem #61

Jan 052013

Caliber SXT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 147,000 miles

The worst part was getting the parts to replace. First I replaced the control arms thinking that would resolve the problem. WRONG! Turns out the ball joints must be replaced also. There goes another $700 for parts and labor. I realize that the car has a lot of miles however I didn't expect this to be such the expense or trouble.

- Tabitha P., Memphis, TN, US

problem #60

Jan 312013

Caliber R/T AWD 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 66,487 miles

At less than 70k kms, any 5 years old, both control arms needed to be replaced, the bushings were disintegrated, they are not replaceable, only the full arms. With alignment, it cost us $1100. Chryco did call us, after we went to the local paper, but refused to pay a dime. (Since then, we have bought 2 new vehicles, Ford and Hyundai, we are done with Chryco). Daughter has the Caliber for school.

Today, Jan 31, 2013' back the car out of the driveway, and thunk- driver's side when jams into back of fender. Suspect broken ball joint. Control arm is dented! Did not hit anything, odd.

$100 to tow to a local garage of someone I know. More tomorrow. I assume $500 repair, again.

No more Chryco products in this family, ever. Terrible quality and bad cust service.

- Sean O., Brampton, Ontario, canada

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