Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
17 reports
47,500 miles · Dec 5, 2018
Unknown Or Other
MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION 2 WEEKS AGO. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS A K FRAME RECALL ON 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, BUT NOT 2008. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT HAS RUINED MY NEW TIRES. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE A…
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MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION 2 WEEKS AGO. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS A K FRAME RECALL ON 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, BUT NOT 2008. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT HAS RUINED MY NEW TIRES. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2000 FOR REPAIRS. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED JANUARY OF 2018.
NHTSA ODI #11156395
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2018
Electrical SystemStructure
COMING HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING HOME WITH A FLASHLIGHT. ALSO THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAD. OUR OIL CHANGED AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND THE OIL PAN WILL NEED TO BE RE…
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COMING HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING HOME WITH A FLASHLIGHT. ALSO THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAD. OUR OIL CHANGED AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND THE OIL PAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON
NHTSA ODI #11110581
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
WHEN FUELING CAR GAS INTAKE CUTS OFF REPEATEDLY. TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO PUT GAS IN CAR. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY 7 - 8 MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #10846456
100,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Electrical System
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PICTURE CAME ON DASH AS I WAS TRYING TO START CAR TO LEAVE FROM MY HOME. CAR SHUT OFF AND DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN. DONT WANT TO RUN BATTERY DOWN. CAR STILL IN GARAGE AT HOME.
NHTSA ODI #10821772
97,000 miles · Aug 27, 2015
Electrical SystemSeatsFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEATED SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE SEATS TO OVERHEAT LEAVING A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES BEHIND THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR OF THE SEAT WAS WARM AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEATED SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE SEATS TO OVERHEAT LEAVING A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES BEHIND THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR OF THE SEAT WAS WARM AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING THE WIPER BLADES TO FAIL AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MAIN WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND THE HEATED PAD, WIRING, ZONE, COVER, AND SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE OVERHEATED SEAT FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10759726
56,708 miles · Jul 7, 2015
Suspension
WHILE GETTING A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION ON A LOW MILEAGE (56K) GARAGE KEPT DODGE CALIBER THE CAR FAILED DUE BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST, FRACTURES AND HOLES. BOTH THE SUBFRAMES CROSSMEMBERS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2007 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT HONORED ON THE 2008.
CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TIPM. I OFTEN TRAVEL THE FREEWAY AND WAS EXPERIENCING A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH A VARIETY OF DODGE MODEL CARS AND FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. I FEEL THE IM…
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CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TIPM. I OFTEN TRAVEL THE FREEWAY AND WAS EXPERIENCING A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH A VARIETY OF DODGE MODEL CARS AND FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. I FEEL THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM FAILURE HAS ON THESE MODELS AS WELL AS THEIR SAFETY FEATURE IS NUMEROUS. I ALSO QUITE SURE THAT THE COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF ITS DEFECTS, YET THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10695452
56,000 miles · Dec 2, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA ODI #10661597
56,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Power Train
VEHICLE STARTING MAKING A SOUND. WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10569155
63,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
SteeringSuspension
HAD TO REPLACE THE WISH BONES. AND AM ON MY 5 TH SET IF TIRES SINCE MAY OF 2012. WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP AT $130 A PIECE FOR THE CHEAPEST. ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS OFF AND TIRES HAVE TO BE PUMPED EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #10557397
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2008 Dodge Caliber Awd Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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