NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
74 reports24,500 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Suspension
AT APPROXIMATELY 23,700 MILES, MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER RT HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS REPLACED (CHRYSLER REIMBURSED FOR THE RUINED FRONT TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON 9 MONTHS BEFORE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM). WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING LOSE IN THE FRONT DRIVER'…
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AT APPROXIMATELY 23,700 MILES, MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER RT HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS REPLACED (CHRYSLER REIMBURSED FOR THE RUINED FRONT TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON 9 MONTHS BEFORE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM). WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING LOSE IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AREA. UPON HAVING MY ANNUAL INSPECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAVE A BUSTED DRIVERS' SIDE STRUT. THERE IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THIS IS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS! I KEEP READING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DODGE/CHRSYLER IS GOING TO FIX VIA RECALL (OF COURSE, THE STRUTS STARTED MAKING THE NOISE WITHIN WEEKS OF COMING OUT OF MY BASIC 3 YR/36,000 MILE COVERAGE - I AM NOW INTO EXTENDED COVERAGE WITH A DEDUCTIBLE). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392138
67,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashInjury
I BOUGHT A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AND THE FOLLOWING THINGS HAVE HAPPENED THAT RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. 1.) THE BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT ONLY 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. 2.) THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR THE VOLUME AND CHANGING THE CHANNELS HAVE NEVER WORKED. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP 14 TIMES AND THE ISSUE HAS NEVER B…
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I BOUGHT A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AND THE FOLLOWING THINGS HAVE HAPPENED THAT RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. 1.) THE BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT ONLY 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. 2.) THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR THE VOLUME AND CHANGING THE CHANNELS HAVE NEVER WORKED. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP 14 TIMES AND THE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED. 3.) FIRST BRAKE FAILURE WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE CAR AND WAS DUE TO THE BOOSTER CYLINDER AND MASTER CYLINDER FAILING. OURISMAN DODGE PUT ME INTO A RENTAL CAR FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. 4.) CRUISE CONTROL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND COULD ALSO BE A REASON WHY THE CAR WAS IN A ACCIDENT 5.) TRANSMISSION ISSUE, THE CAR HAS ALREADY HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHERE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO UPSHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE USED. 6.) COMPUTER ISSUES, WHEN MY BATTERY DIED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER WENT OUT AND $300 LATER HAD TO BE RELOADED AND FIXED 7.) THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS ALREADY FAILED ON THE CAR 8.) I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT GO ON 3 TIMES WITH DIFFERENT SENSORS FAILING NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. 9.) THE CONTROL ARM AND SUSPENSION HAS CURRENTLY FAILED AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR AROUND $2000. 10.) EVERYTHING LEAKS AND RETAINS WATER. THE BACK LIGHTS FILL WITH WATER AND I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE 3 TIMES. THE DOORS ALSO FILL GALLONS AND GALLONS OF WATER WHICH WILL TAKE 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO DRAIN SOMETIMES. THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THAT ISSUE 2 TIMES AND NEVER REPAIRED. 11.) MANY SEALS HAVE ROTTED IN THE CAR CAUSING LEAKS AND OTHER ISSUES TO OCCUR. 12.) SECOND BRAKE FAILURE, THIS LED TO A 3 CAR ACCIDENT AND THE TOTALING OF MULTIPLE CARS. THE BRAKE PEDAL SHOOK AND THEN WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON DURING THIS BRAKING ATTEMPT. THE CAR HIT ANOTHER CAR GOING 51 MPH. DODGE HAS BEEN CONTACTED TO INVESTIGATE AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME AT THIS TIME. THEY WERE CONTACTED ON THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10373293
60,000 miles · Oct 19, 2010
Suspension
2007 DODGE CALIBER BROKEN FRONT ARM CONTROL IN SUSPENSION THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD . ACCORDING TO THE PARTS STORE IT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10361258
70,000 miles · Oct 17, 2010
Structure
WATER LEAKS INTO CAR DURING HEAVY RAIN COLLISION CENTER FOUND HOLE IN BODY SEAM WHERE HINGE PILLAR AND COWL PANEL ARE PUT TOGETHER. CAR HAS SUN ROOF. COLLISION CENTER FEELS THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360825
50,000 miles · Jul 25, 2010
Electrical SystemVisibility
THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. A DEALER RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER AT NO CHARGE. REPAIR LASTED ONE YEAR. THE WIPER IS AGAIN NOT FUNCTIONING BUT NOW THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $100.00 TO REFLASH THE TIPM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10345182
30,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND INDEPENDENTLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND INDEPENDENTLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,000. UPDATED10/28/10 *BF UPDATED 11/01/10
NHTSA ODI #10339476
75,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10012 - 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD SRT - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. IN MY CASE THE RPM SHOT UP TO 4000RPM WHILE I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED 3X IN ONE MONTH. APPLYING BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT ON HIGH ENGINE SPEED. MY REACTION WAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND GUN THE GAS PEDAL. THIS RESET IDLE BACK TO …
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NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10012 - 2007 DODGE CALIBER AWD SRT - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. IN MY CASE THE RPM SHOT UP TO 4000RPM WHILE I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED 3X IN ONE MONTH. APPLYING BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT ON HIGH ENGINE SPEED. MY REACTION WAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND GUN THE GAS PEDAL. THIS RESET IDLE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURN AND I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO HAVE IT CHECKED OR REPAIR YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335472
45,800 miles · Apr 16, 2010
Suspension
UNEXPLAINED FAILURE OF BOTH BALL JOINTS AT 45800 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325972
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2010
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control
2007 DODGE CALIBER R/T AWD. MY WIFE FOUND 2 SMALL BRASS BUSHINGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, DURING ACCELERATION ONTO AN INTERSTATE, IT APPEARED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER I REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL. I PULLED THE PEDAL UP WITH MY FOOT TO FREE UP PEDAL…
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2007 DODGE CALIBER R/T AWD. MY WIFE FOUND 2 SMALL BRASS BUSHINGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, DURING ACCELERATION ONTO AN INTERSTATE, IT APPEARED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER I REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL. I PULLED THE PEDAL UP WITH MY FOOT TO FREE UP PEDAL. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A COUPLE OF OTHER REFERENCES TO A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH OTHER CALIBER OWNERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO MY PREFERRED MECHANIC, AND HE HAS TO ORDER A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318078
45,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER HAS HAD 5 EPISODES OF THE ACCELERATOR GOING TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SPEEDING UP AND THE RPM GOING TO HIGH, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME FROM ARIZONA TO ARKANSAS AND AT APROX 800 MILES IT HAPPENED AND AS ONE IS WHEN TRAVELING I WAS TIRED AND THINGS WERE CLUTTERED SO I ASSUMED IT WAS THE FLO…
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MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER HAS HAD 5 EPISODES OF THE ACCELERATOR GOING TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SPEEDING UP AND THE RPM GOING TO HIGH, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME FROM ARIZONA TO ARKANSAS AND AT APROX 800 MILES IT HAPPENED AND AS ONE IS WHEN TRAVELING I WAS TIRED AND THINGS WERE CLUTTERED SO I ASSUMED IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT AND PULLED IT DOWN AND WENT ON. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL SO THAT I DID NOT SPEED UP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES IT DID THE SAME THING AND I TOOK THE MATT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO STICK MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDDLE AND PULL IT UP AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND IT WAS THEN BEHAVING NORMAL. THE NEXT TIME I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I DID THINK IT WAS THE MATT AND THE MATT WAS GONE. DOING THE SAME THING PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AS I WAS DRIVING AND BACK IN DRIVE , THIS TIME I HAD TO KEEP DOING THIS AS I COASTED ON THE ROAD AND ON THE 3 RD TIME IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THE REST IF THE TIMES WERE ON THE SAME TRIP TO THE DEALER, A 50 MILE TRIP, ALL THE SAME , THE CAR ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES DOWN, THE CAR SPEEDS UP , I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PULL THE PEDAL UP AND THEN AFTER A FEW TIMES IT WORKS FOR A UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF MILES. THE DEALER HAS NOW TOLD ME THEY RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT SHOULD IT THEN THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE SOME THINGS. DODGE IN RUSSELLVILLE ARKANSAS, I HOPE IT IS FIXED. MY FEAR IS THIS WILL HAPPEN AS I'M PULLING OUT SOMEWHERE AND CAUSE A WRECK, OR IT WILL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND THEY WON'T THINK SO FAST TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, ON THE INTERNET I FOUND MANY STORIES ABOUT THE DODGE CALIBER ACCELERATOR THROTTLE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND DODGE DEALERS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS , PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS TO SAVE LIVES BEFORE ANY ARE LOST THAT DON'T NEED TO BE LOST. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10313630
NHTSA investigations
1PE10012 · Sticking Accelerator Pedal
Opened Apr 29, 2010 · Closed Aug 26, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of June 3, 2010, Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 25,265 model year 2007 Dodge Caliber vehicles and 71 model year 2007 Jeep Compass vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2006 through May 19, 2006.The recall will remedy a defect in the accelerator pedal assembly (accelerator pedal) of the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system that can cause the accelerator pedal to stick in an open position and not return to the idle position when released.As stated in the opening resume, the subject vehicles (Caliber) are equipped with an ETC accelerator pedal manufactured by the CTS Corporation, the same supplier of the ETC accelerator pedal used in the recently recalled Toyota vehicles.The ETC accelerator pedal used in Caliber and Compass vehicles is not the same as those used in the recalled Toyota vehicles.They are of a different design, were manufactured using different tooling, and fail in a different manner.According to Chrysler and CTS, oversized bearing pockets in the ETC accelerator pedal housing of the Caliber and Compass vehicles allows the accelerator pedal pivot shaft bearings to dislodge from the housing.If this occurs, the accelerator pedal can stick in an open position (i.e., fails to return to the closed position) or be slow to return.Chrysler's DIR notes that the subject vehicles are equipped with Smart Brake Technology and contends that the impact of a binding or sticking accelerator pedal can be negated by its Smart Brake system.In Chrysler's view, the system enables the brake pedal input to override the throttle control system and safely depower the vehicle and minimizes the potential for safety consequences resulting from the defect in the accelerator pedal.Further, Chrysler states, as a result of the presence of this technology, Chrysler Group LLC has concluded that the condition described in this report does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.ODI does not concur with Chrysler's position that the Smart Brake technology employed in the subject vehicles eliminates unreasonable risks to safety stemming from the ETC accelerator pedal defect.Aside from the fact that the technology is applicable only to situations where the brake pedal is activated, the Smart Brake system implemented in the subject vehicles will override a stuck throttle under a discrete set of conditions.Because driver behaviors (e.g., kicking at the accelerator pedal to dislodge it, or pumping the brake pedal instead of steady application) may delay or prevent activation of the Smart Brake system in the subject vehicles, ODI believes that this Smart Brake system does not totally eliminate unreasonable risks to safety posed by this defect or the necessity of a safety recall in this case.See Safety Recall file 10V-234 for recall details.