2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,962 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Dodge Caliber miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2008 Dodge Caliber Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Jan 062023

Caliber

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car shuts down while driving These cars recalled July10 2008 Mine was made April18 2008 but has the same issue It could cost lives

- Grass Valley, CA, USA

problem #27

Sep 152021

Caliber

  • miles
2008 Dodge Caliber with approx. 135,000 miles on it. Rotted subframe and rusted crossbar. Vehicle started swerving as if driving on ice (in the summertime!). Took it to a reputable mechanic and he wouldn't even put it on a lift. He said it was too much of a risk. I understand this is common on this vehicle, it's dangerous and should be recalled! NO more Dodge vehicles for me, ever!

- Sturgeon Lake, MN, USA

problem #26

Apr 142022

Caliber

  • miles
Subframe rusted front and rear Was driving tire axel/rod broke entire underneath rusted rotted

- Morganville , NJ, USA

problem #25

Dec 272021

Caliber

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was informed at inspection that the main front cross member has a huge hole in the center of it and is rusting out badly. At 162,356 miles this car will not pass safety inspection. This car is not safe for me or my family. No warning lamps or messages. I was told that one bad bump could do us in. We were told to contact the dealership and found out about the extended warranty that had already passed during the previous owners time. This should have been a recall, but what else can you expect from dodge.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

problem #24

Dec 282020

Caliber

  • miles
Took vehicle in for maintenance, technician told us the front crossmember is rusted throughout and needs replacement. Technician advised it's a safety issue and this model was given extended warranty under X69 notice, however warranty may have already expired. I contacted Chrysler representative and they advised the vehicle was part of the X69 notice but was beyond the extended warranty that expired in June 2018. I am the second owner of vehicle band never received notice of the issue from Chrysler/Dodge. The crossmember rust issue appears to be a common problem with this model. I am requesting an investigation and recall for this part.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #23

May 222020

Caliber 4-cyl

  • 104,392 miles
While my wife was driving, the front subframe crossmember rusted through, causing her to lose control of the car and she could not safely operate it without repair. I managed to get it to a Firestone for them to look at and they referred me to a dealer and told me not to drive it anymore because it is unsafe. This is a problem that Dodge knew about, but failed to notify me about. I only found out about the problem from the dealership, who told me that the extended warranty that covers this problem had expired in 2018 and that I would be responsible for the cost of any repairs. I owned the car during that time and I did not know of this problem, so I could not act on getting it repaired. This never should have been an extended warranty, this should have been a recall because of the potential to kill people when the subframe rusts out. My wife was driving in a parking lot at the time at a relatively low speed, but had this happened on a highway it could have killed her and my son, as well as others on the road. Number: 23-007-17 rev. B group: Body date: March 10, 2017

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #22

Jun 272019

Caliber

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle went in for an oil change and I was told that my sub frame is rusting and until my front crossmember is replaced to not drive the vehicle it is unsafe. My neighbor who is a mechanic said it was a known problem with my car and he believed their to be a recall. I looked online and couldn't find a recall but eventually I found something on Chrysler's website about X69 corrosion that affected 2008 to 2012 Calibers and Jeep compasses. They knew about this problem. They never told anyone to look for this. I asked about it and their solution was they offered an extended warranty for 10 years and that my warranty expired several months ago so I was out of luck. My family's safety has an expiration"?? I am the only owner of this vehicle and never had my frame checked now all of a sudden it's unsafe to drive. Since they knew about this problem and because it wasn't a mandated recall they only have to fix the ones that are brought to a dealer within 10 years" if they fix somewhere else they won't know about this extended warranty. This seems unfair. They used sub par parts and now consumers are they one putting themselves and their families at risk. They should be required to fix the cars. Safety should not have an expiration. I have no choice but to drive the car but I will not put my children in the car. It's an expensive fix and I don't feel I should have to pay for something they knew about and if I would have had a mechanic check a few months ago I would have known about it and could have had it replaced for free from them but I guess they win in that situation because I never knew to look for it. My safety should not come with an expiration.

- Newport, KY, USA

problem #21

May 292019

Caliber

  • 170,000 miles
Let me start by saying that I love driving my 2008 Dodge Caliber and wish that it was worth repairing all of the issues that I am researching are common problems among fellow owners of this year, make and model of vehicle. As a person who pays close attention to my vehicle, repair costs have been adding up over the past couple of years. Starting with a complete repair related to the suspension including the control arms/ bushings, sway bar, ball joints, and tie rods, which has caused my 4 new tires to experience a shortened lifespan due to uneven wearing. Recently, I had my car in the shop to address a loud noise I was hearing while the vehicle was in motion. The mechanic diagnosed a long list of issues, including rusting/corrosion to the engine cradle and further problems with the suspension that in their professional opinion determined the vehicle unsafe to operate. At this point, the mechanic informed me that there had been recalls and an extended warranty implemented to address the rusting/corrosion of the sub frame, as I was unaware and did not receive any notices for any of the listed recalls. Today, I find myself researching the list of problems that the mechanic indicated with the suspension and rotting engine cradle and will unfortunately not be worth putting thousands of dollars into to make it safe, an issue that should be honoured by the manufacturer. I would like to take the proper steps to address this extreme safety concern that has been an obvious issue for many owners like myself. I wonder how many others did not receive the recall notice for the rotting engine cradle and have spent thousands in repairs on that and/or suspension malfunctions? these problems are not minor and need to be addressed, as I am sure there are many owners who have not been made aware of the recall and safety concerns this poses to operators or others in the vehicle presence.

- Kingston, Ontraio, Canada, IL, USA

problem #20

Aug 152015

Caliber

  • 125,000 miles
Extensive corrosion on front and rear frame crossmembers that support drive and suspension components.

- Brooktondale, NY, USA

problem #19

Nov 162018

Caliber

  • 69,500 miles
I went to get the car inspected and the mechanic told me that the motor mounts are rusted out and will need to be replaced. The car has less than 70,000 miles.

- Washington, PA, USA

problem #18

Jun 222018

Caliber

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took our Dodge Caliber 2008 (manufacturer date: 11/2007) to a mechanic for repairs thought to be struts and was told the front cradle was rusted out and need to be replaced to continue any safe driving. This was a 2007 recall but was never included in any titled 2008 cars that were manufactured in 2007. This is a very dangerous issue and seems to be reported more often now at the 10 year mark. This is something that is not a traditional problem on most vehicles and seems to be a manufacturers defect. I would like to see it recalled, because the replacement cost on this is in the thousands and it is a severe safety hazard.

- Mahtomedi, MN, USA

problem #17

Jan 282018

Caliber

  • 80,000 miles
The electronic throttle light came on while driving on IH35, I lost power and myvehicle went on 5 miles per hour then stopped in the middle of the highway.

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #16

Jan 012017

Caliber

  • 165,000 miles
A frame rusted out and everything else under the car has no rust and now it's a saggy issue

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #15

Jul 282017

Caliber

  • miles
I do not live in a salt state. I own a 2008 Caliber since 2012 and it has a badly rusted out front frame/cradle assembly making it unsafe to drive. Chrysler only replaces this part under a warranty in salt states, ne is not one of those states. This car has no rust on the body, has been very well taken care of and I keep it in the garage when not driving it. To make things worse, Firestone did a comprehensive auto inspection on it in April 2017, and did $1900 worth of front and rear end suspension work making it a safe car for me to give to my 16 Y/O granddaughter, who's been driving it since then daily with her friends in the car. Never did Firestone mention the rusted out cradle assembly. Because the car was making strange noises, I stopped at local auto repair shop on 7/28, and as soon as he lifted the car up he immediately noticed the damage, took pictures and advised me not to drive the car as it is very unsafe. I have attached pictures.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #14

May 252015

Caliber

  • 100,000 miles
There are currently 0 recalls on the 2008 Dodge Caliber 2.0. however, a simple youtube search will bring up common issues with the lower ball joints, which cause extreme tire wear and even severe pulling to the left and right with very little control. The anti-lock breaking system as well as the throttle body are huge issues as well. However, it wasn't a youtube search that brought this to my attention but instead driving one and looking into it. To my surprise there are zero recalls on this vehicle.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #13

May 212017

Caliber

  • 76,000 miles
After starting engine, and beginning to drive. Car kept losing power and had an extremely rough idle. Could not get to go over 25 mph. Etc indicator light was on the entire time. Drove it immediately to my local garage.

- Parchment, MI, USA

problem #12

Sep 062016

Caliber

  • 114,000 miles
I did some work on the front end, I replaced tierod end and ball joints, also put new tires on the car. I was scheduling an alignment when the front would make a pop sound and a slight snap when going over bumps and when the steering wheel is turned to the left. I looked to see what the matter was and the sub frame was cracked and rusted...I wash the car 2 a month especially in winter. The sub frame also connects the swaybar, struts and it cant get aligned due to the broken frame.. all too prematurely.

- Cornish, ME, USA

problem #11

Aug 192016

Caliber

  • 127,203 miles
Driving down the road and making a righthand turn, I heard a loud pop then the car started pulling hard to the right. I had to decrease my speed to 25 mph due to the severe pulling. Had dad look at car and found the sub frame was cracked in half on drivers side. The car has not moved at all since that was found. My 3 year old daughter is often in this vehicle!

- Mentor, OH, USA

problem #10

May 252016

Caliber

  • 68,000 miles
Sub frame completely rusted out, heard a clunking noise coming from front when going over bumps, took it to my mechanic and told me I was lucky the front of the car didn't fall off as the crossmember was splitting at the seam, car has less than 70,000 miles on it !

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #9

Oct 012015

Caliber

  • miles
My subframe is rusted almost completely in half, I can not drive my vehicle the dealer says the ac drips right on that frame and that's why it is rusted out.

- Ashland, KY, USA

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