CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2007 Dodge Caliber has all kinds of suspension problems at relatively low mileage: typically 40-50,000 miles.

The most commonly reported problems are with ball joints & control arms going bad. Tie rods & leaking struts are also reported failing in the same mileage range.

Unfortunately all the suspension problems means some owners only find out after they notice their tires are ruined.

We've given the 2007 Caliber our worst rating because these problems happen at such low mileage, & it involves a wide range of apparently defective parts. With most other cars, major suspension work is pretty rare under 50,000 miles.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$730
Average Mileage:
77,450 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. replace subframe (4 reports)
  3. replace sub-frame (1 reports)
2007 Dodge Caliber body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2007 Dodge Caliber Owner Comments

problem #11

May 162016

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

car is expensive to repair+the engine could fall out

- duanedp, Benton Harbor, MI, US

problem #10

Apr 262017

Caliber RT 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 103,895 miles

sub frame rusted out should not happen om a car with 100000. mile dodge are sh*t

- Bill V., Galway, US

problem #9

Mar 152016

Caliber V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

JUST RECENTLY OUR 2007 CALIBER, STARTED ACTING STRANGE WITH A BIG THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END EVERY TIME WE TURNED LEFT WITH IT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A CAR SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT WE LEARNED THAT THE WHOLE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND BECAUSE OF THIS IT CAUSED THE SWAY BAR TO COME DOWN AND RUB AGAINST THE TIRES AND HANG DOWN, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE LOUD THUMPING SOUND. WELL THEY SAID THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME WITH A COST FOR TOTAL REPAIRS OF $1400. OUCH!!! WELL THEN I DECIDED TO GO ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THESE, AND IN MY DISCOVERY FOUND THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. WOW!!! BUT NO RECALLS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IF THE REST OF THE CAR IS RUST FREE. TO TOP THAT OFF WE HAVE PUT OUR CAR IN A GARAGE AND CARPORT IN MICHIGAN SINCE WE'VE HAD IT. SO THIS SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPEN. HOW CAN WE AS CONSUMERS ALLOW THE BIG CAR CORPORATION ROB US LIKE THIS ANYMORE, MUCH LESS POSSIBLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT COULD OF KILLED US? AND WHO DO I CALL TO MAKE DOGE FIX MY CAR, "SUB FRAME" PLUS ANY DAMAGE IT'S CAUSED TO OTHER PARTS ON MY CAR? MY HUSBAND IS RETIRED ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND I AM UNEMPLOYED A STAY AT HOME WIFE WHO TAKES CARE OF HER HUSBAND WITH A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES. HIS SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT IS THE ONLY INCOME WE HAVE TO LIVE OFF FROM. WE HAVE NO SAVINGS FOR EMERGENCIES LIKE THIS WHATSOEVER. SOCIAL SECURITY DOESN'T PAY PEOPLE ENOUGH MONEY TO RETIRE ON. CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE PLEASE HELP US OR GIVE US SOME ADVICE IN WHAT TO DO. FEELING VERY ANGRY AND UPSET ABOUT THIS IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS.

- Elizabeth D., Lansing, US

problem #8

May 302015

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 86,500 miles

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

Caliber owners beware. I bought my new Dodge Caliber in 2007. Although the car runs great, the front end is substandard. 2 years ago I had to have my leaf springs and joints replaced. And now the subframe is completely rusted. It looks as if the subframe has been in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for over 20 years!

My friends could not believe that this part of the steel should be of such low quality this be the last thing to rust. I currently have my car in the shop now having the subframe replaced. They used one from a junk yard. Even though this was a used part it will still cost me up to $700 to fix. This is unacceptable.

I have been buying Chrysler products all of my life. My father (now diseased) worked for Chrysler for over 30 years. It appears that Chrysler products are not built to last. My caliber which is 8 years old still only has less than 87,000 miles on it. This pains me to say that even though I grew up with Chrysler products, I will more than likely be never buying another Chrysler product again.

- Thomas W., Dearborn, MI, US

problem #7

May 212015

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

My wife was driving my 2007 Dodge Caliber on a back country road. All of a sudden she heard a screeching noise and had no control over the steering. She managed to drive it a few hundred yards to the nearest shop.

When the mechanic put it on the lift to see what the problem was he said the front end undercarriage was rusted out and could not be fixed. A control arm was broken also. He said my wife was very lucky she wasn't on the highway when this happened or she could have been seriously injured. It has been towed to a Dodge dealer to see if anything can be done with it. The car was used casually and not driven more then 1,000 miles in 2 years.

Chrysler needs to take care of these problems before someone is seriously injured or killed. This car has 79000 miles on it and this should not have happened.

- Joseph H., White Haven, US

problem #6

Nov 092013

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 34,220 miles

click to see larger images

subframe rust subframe rust subframe rust

When doing a brake job I noticed that that my front sub-frame had corrosion holes in it. This is the engine cradle and the main support for the front suspension. This should not go bad on a 6yr old car that has less than 35000 miles. Chrysler needs to recall this car for this safety issue. After several emails and phone calls to Chrysler they agreed it was defective and replaced the front and rear sub-frame for $200. I shouldn't have had to pay anything for them to fix their defect.

- Darryl W., Duncansville, PA, US

problem #5

Mar 252014

Caliber SXT 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 108,000 miles

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

Rest of the body is great, I don't like the look of the sub frame.

- Mike K., Rogers City, MI, US

problem #4

Nov 082013

Caliber

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,166 miles

click to see larger images

subframe rust subframe rust subframe rust subframe rust

Vehicle only has 93,000kms. First, rear crossmember corroded right through and broke off while driving (November 2013) - see pictures. Cost to fix was approx. $600. Luckily I was almost home at the time and my kids were not in the car. Took the vehicle in for brake work in December 2013. Mechanic showed me the corrosion that was occuring in front subframe (see pictures). I could put my finger into the hole. Vehicle no longer under Warranty. Waiting to hear back from Chyrsler Canada.

- timconnorsns, Williamswood, NS, Canada

problem #3

Dec 062012

Caliber SXT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

The main cross frame on the car has rusted through so Dodge says yes it is a defect but is out of warranty and they will only cover 50% of the repair. who ever heard of a frame rusting out after 5 years!!

Dodge wont share how many other people have complained of the issue but if the posts are any indication there is lots!

- Kerry O., Hampton, NB, canada

problem #2

Dec 072012

Caliber RT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

The C/member-F or subframe was cracked in three places and so rotten that while in the shop someone put their thumb through it. It was deemed unsafe to drive by our repairman. This is a 2007 RT, how many cars five years old does this happen to? The new part was $572.00 purchased at dealership, not including the labor from our repairman. We do have some pictures taken, but not viewed yet. The repairman has had the old sub-frame on display showing everyone that comes in, only because it is so unbelievable. I did read on http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Forum/Dodge/Caliber/Consumer+Complaint/5641-5641 of someone else having similar problems. I contacted Dodge an they said sorry not under warranty. On Dodge on facebook they asked for phone number and Vin, but they have never contacted me. The air conditioning hose runs onto the sub-frame, the other person indicated this is the problem. I know my warranty was over, but I would say this is defective equipment, we had a 5 hour trip planned for the day I brought it into the shop. We had cancelled the trip due to the front end started to make a noise. Glad we did would have hated to have been zipping down the Interstate when it broke. We could have been injured or killed or taken other cars with us, scary thought.

- Brenda B., Lunenburg, VT, US

problem #1

Jun 222010

Caliber SXT 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Had bad noise comming from left right front of car brought it to dealer and the mechanic said the rotors were falling apart from rust and that the whole undercarriage of the vehicle was rusting away. I went out to the shop and he showed me the problem and yes the car is literaly rusting away and it will eventually cause problems with the suspension on the front end of the car.

This car was from up north and was supposedly undercoated because they use salt on there roads in the winter, guess what no undercoating and the car is falling apart because of this, and i was told by a qualified chrysler mechanic to get rid of this vehicle a.s.a.p. but i cant because i am temporarily unemployed, and the worst part is i have had to put new brakes and rotors and tie rod ends on this car and none of it is covered under my crappy 1400 dollar extended warranty.

I feel chrysler should reimburse me for these repairs, but they would find some way to deny me a refund im sure. So now i have a car that is self destructing and if the suspension gives way while im driving it i could hurt myself and possibly someone else in an accident. This car is a piece of crap and i will never buy another chrysler product again, hello HONDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Scott B., Boerne, TX, US

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