10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 89,128 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the linn bolt warning light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the electronic control, the power train activator, and the actuator control system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,570.
- Tampa, FL, USA
The light of temperature for transmission went on and the car start running slowly I stopped for 15 minutes and the car start running fine but when I took the high for more the 30 minutes do the same every time.
- Lawrence, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While in park, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and then to a dealer who were unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. In addition, three weeks later while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The oil pressure warning light illuminated as the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.
- Richmond, TX, USA
I had 62,000 miles a year ago. I was driving on a 3 lane highway though town in the center lane and all of the sudden my car lost power and I worked my way over to the right hand lane, thank goodness that there was a shopping center parking lot there so I coasted in and found a mechanic to work on my car and he replaced my throttle body, but it cost me $600 out of pocket. Now a year later with only driving my car 10,000 miles more I am noticing hesitation in the transmission which I recognizing from year ago and I am amazed there still no recall on this problem.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Vehicle was involved in frontal collision with run off tire from a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck. Frontal driver side received damage to electrical wiring harness which shut down onboard computer system. Upon impact the vehicle seized operation and shut down air bag deployment. Steering control was lost due to half shaft joint was sheered apart.
- Lawton, OK, USA
When I am driving on the freeway for any distance over 30 miles and the temperature is over 70 degrees outside, the trans oil temp signal comes on and I loss all power to the transmission. This can be a serious issue, because this happen on the freeway / highway. It is a continuous problem. When I initially took it to the dealership, I was told that since they couldn't recreate it, they couldn't fix it. This problem has caused me to limit trips or borrow / rent a car to go anywhere of any distance. I have had this issue for over two years, but didn't realize how many other Dodge Caliber owners were experiencing the same issue until recently.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
Driving on interstate 55 back to peoria, il. Car interior and dash lights flashing and surging. Smelt something burning. Car died, lucky got to shoulder of freeway. Had it towed from Pontiac, il. To Firestone in peoria, il. Diagnosis, hole in A/C compressor (possible pistons blew through casing), shorted starter, fried battery
- Melrose Park, IL, USA
I was driving my car on I-10 and the car suddenly jerked and slowed down despite my foot still being on the gas pedal, the car began to shake and then the engine stopped on the middle of the road. I coasted to the median, and waited for 3-4 minutes, (mostly to catch my breath as I was lucky I was not run over by semi's) I restarted the mph was the norm) I had to put on my hazard lights and drive to the next exit. The mechanic said the control board for the crankshaft was blown and needed to be replaced. Seems like a very dangerous situation for other drivers and owners of a Dodge Caliber if it is a common defect. 07dodcaliber/PC684 Dodge crankshaft position sensor.
- Fairhope, AL, USA
Car will randomly start shaking like there is barely any power. I have had to replace the alternator twice. Numerous throttle issues that numerous auto service shops were not able to fully take care of. When the vehicle was at a stop and the accelerator was pressed, lightly and normally the car would accelerate inappropriately and kind of jerk forward. In addition, when turning and the accelerator is pressed normally the car would seem to lose power and seem to glide into the turn and then jerk forward. These throttle issues were never fully explained or fixed. After a while the car dash started flashing a red electrical bolt and the car would shutter and shake and lose all power. Initially, when this occurred I was able to just turn the car off and wait and then turn it back on and it would function for a while. Also, if the car was idling at a stoplight or parked the electrical bolt would flash and the car would start to shake. Now the air bag light in the cluster constantly turns off and on and beeps while the car is shaking.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Car started making loud grinding noise under hood while accelerating during regular driving. Had independent mechanic diagnose noise. Was advised gear inside transmission 'broken' transmission will have to be replaced, cannot be fixed. Caliber has cvt transmission which had widespread/known issues. The transmission should at least last the life of a car loan when the car us purchased fairly new. Dodge refuses to take ownership of problem although it is documented all over internet including youtube. If other manufacturers are assisting in repairing/replacing these transmissions, why can't Dodge. I am also interested to know of any class action suits to join based on other known issues, some I have fixed, some I hope I can get rid of the car before I encounter. Dodge marketed this car knowing of the faulty issues...isn't that criminal?
- Henrico, VA, USA
When doing a brake job I noticed the front K member had a corrosion hole in the back of it, this is the front sub frame that holds the powertrain and front suspension.
- Duncansville, PA, USA
I went to get my oil changed an the oil change person said he could not change my oil because the oil pan is rotting out from rust an there's another pan there that looks bad to I guessing must be transmission cover, I have never in my life heard of a oil pan rusting out.the car is like new, what do I do.
- Coventry, RI, USA
I just bought this car from the dealer about 6 months ago. I was driving and then went over a bump and my engine light came on. I was so worried why that had happened so I went to an auto zone to get the engine light checked and he told me nothing is coming up on the computer so it should turn off. So then it did turn off but then last week my car started acting weird and the engine light kept coming back on and going off. When the engine light would come on sometimes even the ABS light and temperature light at the same time. One time I was even driving on the expressway and going 55 and the car suddenly slowed down and would barely move while I was on the expressway I could have got hit!! I brought it to a different Dodge dealer then I had purchased it from to get an opinion and found out it was the totally integrated power train control module. This part is $700 and I do not have the money to pay for this. This is so upsetting because I just got the car. I started doing my research on the internet and have seen my exact car has had so many recalls and seen many people have had the exact same problem on the totally integrated power train control module. The Dodge dealer service assistant told me he has had to put these in many Calibers and think there is something wrong with them from the factory. I am beginning for your help for myself and everyone with this car that has had or is going to get this problem because it is extremely expensive and dangerous.
- Glenwood, IL, USA
Driving down the highway, all of my dash lights came on-battery, fuel, temp, etc. Car lost speed and became sluggish. Lost power steering and pulled over. Car immediately died and would not go into park. Locked up completely. After about 30 mins, it started back up and ran for pax 3 blocks before doing it again. Had it towed. Replaced the alternator, then 3 weeks later same issues. Replaced the battery. Did not fix it. Now told its a common issue for the Dodge Caliber and is the control module which is a 1000 dollar part plus labor. And that Dodge is aware of the issue and has not recalled them. I do not feel I should be stuck with the costs of a major repair that is a design flaw from the manufacturer that they have been aware of for years and is obviously a hazard when it shuts down immediately while driving with no warning. My two young children and 84 year old grand mother were with me in 100 degree weather on the side of the highway for hours while waiting on a tow and a family member to come get us since we couldn't ride in the tow truck. After reading forums online, hundreds if not thousands of Caliber owners have had the same issue. Some had cars that were only two weeks old! I would like to request an investigation and hopefully a recall happen.
- Poplar Bluff, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that after the vehicle approached a stop sign, the accelerator pedal had to be depressed numerous times to increase speed. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified on the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
- Gallion , OH, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the transmission over temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed. The dealer cleaned the coolant lines, replaced the transmission fluid and the trans axle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,000 and the current mileage was 39,000. Updated 10/24/13 the transmission over temp light illuminated in July 2009 and again in October 2009. Both times the vehicle slowed down and barely move. The transaxle was replaced in October 2009 and again in August 2013
- Miles City, MT, USA
On approximately February 5th around 8:00pm my family and I were driving home from being at sister's house and the dash board/instrument panel lighting went completely out. We can no longer see our tachometer or speedometer at night. We contacted our dealership while our warranty was still in effect and to our surprise the warranty did not cover electrical and we were told that it would cost $800+ to have it replaced. Safety hazard. Now at 88,623 miles our transmission is beginning to slip. Dodge needs to fix this.
- Winona, MN, USA
While going down I75 the transmission went into limp mode slowed the car down to 10 mph on the freeway luckily we had someone following us so we wouldn't get hit...we had to have my towed 2.5 hrs away from where we live to have it fixed cause no deals with the cvt's...really need to have a recall on this...this is way to dangerous...it only goes in reverse when it goes into limp mode...please investigate this... the dealer wants $3000 just for transmission which the need to fix for free cause they know what these cvt's do..
- Wyandotte, MI, USA
While driving earlier this month, my car suddenly slowed down to 15 mph and went into limp mode. I could barely get the speed up to 35 mph and keep it at 35 to get the car home. After calling a local auto shop and two area dealerships (go Dodge arapahoe and christopher's Dodge world), I came to discover that the throttle body was worn. The representative from the shop said that this is something he has often seen. Indeed, after doing some research on Caliber forums, it seems that this happens very frequently to 2007 Calibers. This is an extremely dangerous problem that is happening very frequently in 2007 Dodge Calibers. Someone could get hurt or killed if their car suddenly slows to 15-35 mph with no warning. It is dangerous, irresponsible, and immoral for Chrysler to continue to allow people to drive the 2007 Calibers with the knowledge that these cars are equipped with a faulty piece of equipment that causes the car to rapidly decelerate.
- Denver, CO, USA
- Parker, CO, USA