10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,758 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2007 Dodge Caliber:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #121

Jan 202017

Caliber

  • 124,000 miles
Where do I start! from day one we have had issues with this car. Cruse control didn't work, brought back to dealer the first week to be fixed. One month later, front speaker went out, another trip to the dealer speaker was replaced. At 34,611 miles, car was stuck in park, would not shift at all. Towed to dealer, replaced stop lamp. At 35,031 miles, front end making loud knocking noise, you guessed it, another trip to Dodge, lower control arms replaced. Skipping to January of 2017, car now has 124,000 miles loud crunching sound coming from front driver side. Thought oh, another ball joint needs replacing, which has been replaced in January of 2016, along with more control arms, sway bar link, and struts, about $1200 in all. Took this pile of crap to local merlin's shop, showed me the rotted cross member with large holes in it, completely rotted through, back cross member was in bad shape as well. Absolutely disgusted with this car, traded it in for a 2011 Chevy and got $ $500 which was pretty generous. How could Dodge not recall this issue, my wife would drive this 5 days a week 40 miles a day on the highway, lucky she could of been injured or worse, she always said the front end was not right, this has been rusting out for years. I guess safety is not a priority with their customers, they never sent any warning out to have this checked out. I will never ever buy another Chrysler/Dodge or Jeep product.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

problem #120

Jan 162017

Caliber

  • 134,000 miles
Crossmembers front and rear subframe are rusted through and perforated. Damaging front end parts by instability...car unsafe to drive. Car just purchased from unsavory car dealer...

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #119

Oct 142016

Caliber

  • 130,000 miles
The crossmember is rusted and has a huge whole in it. I get regular oil changes at the Dodge dealer, with no mention of the crossmember issue. Started hearing noise in front end took to mechanic and informed of issue. After some research found 10 year extension of warrenty on this part. Went to get replaced and found other suspension issues caused by the severe rust, which they will not cover. Vehicle not safe to drive and the cost for us to fix is more than the worth of the car!! at this point have no trade in value for car...

- Fox River Grove, IL, USA

problem #118

Oct 112016

Caliber

  • 122,000 miles
Turn signals start to fail, even with the faulty bulb replaced newly replaced bulb does not work. Brought the car to the dealership and diagnosed the tipm (totally integrated power module) is faulty. Checked the internet and forums for similar issues other owners have worse issues such as headlights randomly going out, stalling at highway speeds, windshield wipers failing... that they are encountering due to a faulty tipm which can be a safety issue. The clockspring failure causes the airbag warning light to come on which signifies that the airbag will not work when it needs to. The cruise control system intermittently works which is also affected by the clock spring. Both lower control arms bushings (left and right) have been replaced twice due to wear. Seems excessive wear between 58K and 80K miles with mostly highway driving on smooth roads.

- Mount Vernon, WA, USA

problem #117

Sep 082016

Caliber

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While the vehicle was stationary, the cross member of the vehicle became severely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Forest Park, GA, USA

problem #116

Sep 162016

Caliber

  • 106,779 miles
At less than 10 miles per hour the rear suspension failed while turning on to a public highway. The drivers side wheel on the back is ready to fall off it is laying against the coil spring. The car is no longer drivable. This is all within close proximity to the fuel tank also and in my opinion could be a puncture risk also. The car has 106779 miles on it, one owner with no collision repairs ever performed and no undercarriage damage ever. Chrysler is performing repairs on select vehicles with the same problem but refuse to repair this one. Had this failure occurred at highway speed it is possible the results could have been catastrophic. This vehicle is less than 9 years old and has seen very little winter weather and has never been in a salt air environment. I see no difference in this problem and the one associated with Toyota truck frames of several years ago. Please help before someone dies from this problem.

- Pikeville, KY, USA

problem #115

Jun 262016

Caliber

  • 140,000 miles
Crossmember detached from vehicle while driving causing loss of steering due to front drivers wheel and axle becoming detached. Took out control arm, cv joints, transmission cooling lines. It left skid marks in pavement where the tire dug in. Actually ripped the tread on new tire. Come to find out this is an extended warranty through Dodge. However if your not the original owner of the vehicle you may not be notified because it is not a recall.

- Amsterdam, NY, USA

problem #114

May 022015

Caliber

  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 116,000.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #113

Mar 292016

Caliber

  • 30,068 miles
2007 Caliber. 30,068 miles on car and lower control arms are bad and need to be replaced. Noise in front end.mechanic said borderline failure

- Colonie, NY, USA

problem #112

Apr 022016

Caliber

  • 97,000 miles
Engine cradle completely rusted. Car is not driveable. Took the car in for service due to extremely bad noise. Was shown condition of engine cradle and bad struts due to engine cradle completely rusted.

- Dover, DE, USA

problem #111

Jan 012016

Caliber

  • 145,000 miles
Bought vehicle used at 95000 miles. 2 years later at about 120000miles both control arms were replaced. New tires installed and alignment performed. Less than two years after replacement, at about 145000miles, control arms and ball joints are bad once again and need to be replaced. Tires as well do not last more than a year and a half on this vehicle.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #110

Feb 202009

Caliber

  • miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal noise in the front end. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side ball joints and control arms failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. While driving at various speeds, the windshield wipers would independently activate. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start. The contact stated that the electronic throttle control warning indicator would illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Talbotton, GA, USA

problem #109

Dec 282010

Caliber

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair and it was discovered that the entire subframe was severely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic recommended the vehicle be driven only short distances due to a potential safety risk. In addition, the front passenger and driver side control arms were replaced on a separate occassion. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

- Chillicothe, IL, USA

problem #108

Jan 092016

Caliber

  • 33,827 miles
Driving 15-20 mph in residential subdivision car veered radically to the right independent of steering striking parked vehicle. Right front tire turned right beyond maximum and is pinned against wheel well. Left front tire straight and aligned properly with steering wheel. Right tie rod bent 180 degrees with threaded portion bent parallel to it's self. Obvious catastrophic failure of steering/suspension on right front side of vehicle that had the failure occurred at highway speeds death of serious injury would likely have resulted. The vehicle is a one owner Dodge caliper with 33,827 miles, serviced regularly at fair oaks Dodge, chantilly

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #107

Oct 162015

Caliber 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 45 mph, the contact noticed that the anti skid and ABS warning lights illuminated without warning. All of the instrument panel lights also illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear ends of the vehicle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who approved the repairs performed by another dealer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 02/12/16

- Lady Lake, FL, USA

problem #106

Oct 052015

Caliber

  • 110,000 miles
Sub frame was so rusted it affected the steering, motor mount collapsed into the sub frame, lower control arm was almost separated from the frame. I was traveling at about 65 mph on the N.Y. thruway when I started having problems with the steering. When I arrived home I investigated and found the car was so unsafe I couldn't drive it again until sub frame was replaced. I saved the frame that was removed from the vehicle if needed.

- Mahwah, NJ, USA

problem #105

Nov 052015

Caliber

  • 76,092 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While having routine maintenance performed on the vehicle by an independent mechanic, it was brought to the attention of the contact that the vehicle's cross member had rust holes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front lower control arms, inner and outer tie rods, and cross member failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,092.

- Stockbridge, MI, USA

problem #104

Oct 052015

Caliber

  • 140,000 miles
Noise under front of car, took to my mechanic told me sub frame was rusted through and cracked. This needed to be replaced. @140000 miles.

- Saint Joe, IN, USA

problem #103

Sep 252015

Caliber

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic noticed that the rear trailing arm bushing was stuck to the suspension. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. The VIN was not available.

- North Andover, MA, USA

problem #102

Sep 262015

Caliber

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while at an independent mechanic for a routine service, the mechanic diagnosed that the subframe corroded and both front ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »