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.
I bought my 2008 Dodge Caliber in July 2010. It had 27,000 miles on it. It was a campaign car. It has always had a problem with pickup. Acceleration is not great, but we noticed on a July 4 trip, that the car was not only making the "normal" steering/suspension noise, but it was also making a whirring noise that my husband feared was the transmission slipping. I made an appointment at the dealership where I bought the vehicle and found out that the whirring noise was not the transmission, but the alternator is bad. $550. The ball joints and the tie rod ends are bad and need to be replaced, $1040. The struts also need to be replaced as well as the front brakes. $800. Yes, my car has 110,000 miles on it, but the trade in value is only about $3500 anyway. Its luckily been paid off for many years. The ball joint/tie rod issue is very worrysome, though. It is dangerous.
I have a 2008 Dodge Caliber we bought it in April 2013 and about every 5-6 months we have to replace struts, ball joints, etc. Plus have the sway bar worked on that often as well..... Dodge needs to recall all these cars with this defect and we have problems with alignments... these cars are very high maintenance because they are so defected and no one can afford to replace all this and keep their cars in shops every 5-6 months... please Dodge do something about all of this...
A technician stated front cradle (connects steering, suspension, etc parts) is rotted & requires replacement. Called Chrysler (800-247-9763) and inquired about Chrysler action # 23-012-14, they stated they extend warranty for repairs on 2007's but would not cover my 2008 Dodge caliper. This issue is a serious safety concern. The car is in good shape & I feel this is defective product and should be covered by Chrysler/Dodge. I need assistance in having this very expensive repair covered in full.
I have a 2008 Dodge Caliber. I wash and maintain it on a regular basis. This car has a terrible suspension since it was new, I have had to replace both front control arms because of the rear bushings and loose ball joints, one at 32,000 miles. Both rear upper control arms and rear links. It is an alignment nightmare. I took it to the local garage for an alignment after I changed some parts this morning and the back of the subframe is rotted out. The car isn't 6 years old and the body still looks great. I called Dodge and they said they have never heard of this problem and wouldn't commit to a bulletin #23-012-14, that covered 2007.
When I got an oil change, the mechanic did an inspection and said the ball joints and tie rods should be replaced as they were showing wear and play. When he let the car down and saw the mileage was 26,700 he said that the parts should not have gone bad unless I was off roading the car. The car is driven 4 miles round trip on paved maintained roads daily at 30 mph. And on occasionally at expressway speeds of 55mph. I took it to the Dodge dealer who said there is no recall or known complaints on this vehicle. I bought the car new in 2007 when they came out.
- Darien, IL, USA
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My vehicle won't stay aligned. And now it has a bad jerk in it. You can be going 10 mph or 50 mph and it still jerks you to the left. You can feel it in the steering wheel. We have put new tires on it so many times. We have bought tierods for it and nothing seems to be helping it.
I was making a turn and the passenger side tie rod broke. This is the third time I have had to replace a tie rod. Thank god my kids were not in the car or I wasn't on the highway. When is some gonna do something about this. People have had more than one bad experience with this. Dodge needs to step up and fix these cars!! this will B the last Dodge I ever buy.
I was on the highway on my way to work, and I went to change from the left to the middle lane and the car kept on going pass the middle lane and toward the wall in the right lane. Thank god the lanes had enough clearly between and I was able to gain control and straigtened out the wheels without crashing into other cars and before I hit the wall. I took it to my mechainic and he changed the tire rod on the driver left side wheel. This same tire rod was changed approximately six months prior to this incident. Another scary experience I have endured with this car, which could have been fatal for myself as well as others. I have had four incidents with this car already, I am very scared to drive it. I brought this car in August of 2009, I am still making payments on it, and still have to take out of pocket expense for its' faulty workmanship. Today is February 11, 2013 and I am ready to get rid of it...after this I will never buy another Dodge made car.
At 41000 miles, our 4 year old vehicle, should not have needed new ball joints. Research tells me Dodge has been very aware of a problem for years, but have not done any type of a recall. All I can say is thank god we found the problem before we went to the mountains.
I have replaced alternator, drive belt, ball joints, wheel bearings, tire rods on my 2008 Dodge. It is making a horrible noise now under the hood. I am one of many who have this same issue.
2008 Dodge Caliber steering wheel issue. Over a period of time my Dodge Caliber srt4 steering wheel became loose and moves forward and back called the Dodge dealership and they had told me that my car was out of warranty and they would not replace it free of charge and that they would have to replace the whole steering column. When I turn the steering wheel has about a half inch play in it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Paris, IL, USA