2007 Dodge Caliber

THE FIRST SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WERE A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, AND I DID NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL DECEMBER, WHEN A PORTION OF A STRAP WITH ELECTRICAL WIRE EMBEDDED BEGAN TO PROTRUDE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN. IT SOON BEGAN TO BE A NUISANCE AS THE PORTION GREW LONGER AND WOULD CATCH ON THE STEERING POSITION ADJUSTMENT KNOB. I GREW ALARMED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS A BROKEN CLOCKSPRING, AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. IT COST ME OVER $300 TO GET THIS REPAIRED, AND NOW I SEE TOYOTA IS DOING A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING, A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY THAT BECOMES DAMAGED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS A POOR DESIGN. TOYOTA IS REPLACING THIS WITH A BETTER PART, BUT I DO NOT THINK DODGE DID THAT, AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET THIS REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AND BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY DODGE ALSO. *JS

MARCH 12, 2014 MY MILEAGE WAS 56700 MILES I HAD TO HAVE MY LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD BOTH FAILED. THE LAST ISSUE I HAD WITH STEERING & SUSPENSION WAS IN MARCH 2012. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE DIAGNOSIS BY THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WAS 34,898 AND I NEEDED TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS TO THE NHTSA/ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING BOTH THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS OF THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS ARE KNOWN TO DODGE TO BE COMMON FAILING PARTS ON THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHEN I REPLACED THE TIE ROD ON 2012 I DID NOTIFY DODGE DIRECTLY, MY VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT THAT TIME AND DODGE CLOSED MY CASE AND I WAS BRUSHED OFF. DODGE STOPPED REPLYING TO MY EMAILS AND WOULD NOT RETURN MY VOICEMAILS. I HAVE FOUND NO FATALITIES IN MY RESEARCH SO FAR, BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WITH THIS VEHICLE DESIGN. HOW MANY REPORTS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION IS LAUNCHED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

UPON HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE, THE SUBFRAME BROKE CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. THE TIRES NOW GO TWO SEPARATE DIRECTIONS. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THEY DISCOVERED THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE SUBFRAME. WHEN HAVING OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER FROM STATE FARM OUT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I THEN CONTACTED DODGE WHO STATED THAT THE PERFORATION FOR RUSTING WAS 100,000 MILES. ALTHOUGH THE INCIDENT ON THE VEHICLE WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALER HAPPENED ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS EXCEEDING THE 100,000 MILES BY ONLY 10,000 MILES - WE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT'S GOING TO COST OVER $1,100 TO FIX DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THIS INCIDENT COULD'VE RESULTED IN A FATALITY. DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MAIN SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 76,150 MILES. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND MENTIONED IT. CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PROVIDE COST ASSISTANCE IF I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN APART AND ON THE LIFT AT MY PREFERRED MECHANIC. I HAD MY MECHANIC PROVIDE THE SERVICE. I DID RECEIVE A QUOTE FROM A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IT WOULD HAVE COST ME $ 850.00. MY MECHANIC DID THE SERVICE FOR $ 650.00. CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED PAYMENT. THIS SUBFRAME COMPONENTS IS RUSTED THROUGH IN THREE LOCATIONS. AFTER ONLY 6 YEARS, THIS DOESN'T SEEM ACCEPTABLE ON A MAJOR FRONT END COMPONENT. *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND HEARD A THUMP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. AS I STARTED TO PULL FORWARD THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE I HEARD A WHINING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY REPAIR SHOP SO I HAD MY BROTHER FOLLOW ME WITH HIS EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND DROVE SLOWLY TO THE SHOP WHERE I FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE ALTERNATOR. *TR

STARTED TO HEAR SQUEAKING AND CLANGING NOISES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. IT WOULD MAKE THE NOISES WITH EVERY BUMP AND ESPECIALLY COULD HEAR IT GOING DOWN HILLS. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD WOBBLE AND IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT TIRE, BUT TIRE PRESSURE WAS FINE. WHEN IT STARTED TO BE ALL OVER THE ROAD, LIKE I WAS CONSTANTLY HYDRO-PLANNING, I RESEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL ARMS, BALL BEARINGS AND TIE RODS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM. HE CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS BOTH CONTROL ARMS WITH CONNECTED BALL BEARING, BOTH TIE RODS AND BOTH SWAY BAR END LINKS NEEDING REPLACED. HE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON NOT EVEN 9 MONTHS AGO WHERE SHOWING THREADS. COST OF REPAIR NOT INCLUDING THE NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WAS $887. WILL BE UP OVER $1000.00 AFTER TIRES ARE REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETE. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ON WET PAVEMENT, HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WAS ALWAYS CORRECTING THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IT JUST PULLED AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP IT WOULD JERK TO THE SIDE WHERE THE BUMP WAS. *TR

BOUGHT 2007 CALIBER BRAND NEW AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES HEARD GRINDING AND THUNK NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WENT TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THE RIGHT TIE ROD WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (OF COURSE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED.). I CALLED CHRYSLER AND OF COURSE THEY DID NOTHING AND I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AT THAT TIME BUT HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. NOW IT'S THREE YEARS LATER AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE ROD & WHEEL BEING LOOSE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? NEVER AGAIN CHRYSLER!! *TR

CAR IS HARD TO START CRANKS VERY SLOW AND THERE IS A TAPPING SOUND LIKE A BAD LIFTER UPON STARTING BUT GOES AWAY WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALIGNMENT WAS WAY OFF AND TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A HOLLOW NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP TO CHECK THAT SOUND OUT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WOULD NOT COME OFF THE GROUND. AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND NEW TIRES THE CAR NOW SHAKES AND VIBRATES IN THE FRONT END. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE REPAIR CENTER FOR 10 DAYS ON AND OFF. THIS LAST TIME IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 6 DAYS AND COUNTING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND TAKEN OFF THE ROAD PERMANENTLY. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A FATALITY! ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN NOW! *TR

MY 2007 DODGE CALIBER, WHICH ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES DRIVEN, HAD TO HAVE ITS LEFT FRONT TIE ROD END REPLACED AT 25,000, AND NOW THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, RIGHT TIE ROD END AND LEFT STRUT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY 2007 DODGE CALIBER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT THE SUSPENSION ON THESE VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, WHICH CONTAIN THE BALL JOINTS, ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, WHEN THEIR TIRES FALL OFF THE CAR. *TR