2007 Dodge Caliber

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 55 BACK TO PEORIA,IL . CAR INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHING AND SURGING. SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. CAR DIED, LUCKY GOT TO SHOULDER OF FREEWAY. HAD IT TOWED FROM PONTIAC, IL. TO FIRESTONE IN PEORIA,IL. *TR DIAGNOSIS, HOLE IN A/C COMPRESSOR (POSSIBLE PISTONS BLEW THROUGH CASING), SHORTED STARTER, FRIED BATTERY

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

THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE YESTERDAY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE CAR GO INTO A "LIMP" MODE (VERY LITTLE POWER), AND EVEN AT FULL PEDAL, IT SLOWLY SLOWS DOWN. HAVING HAD IT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, I LEARNED TO PULL OVER, AND SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES TIMES THIS IS NOT EASY, OR SAFE TO DO. THEN IT IS HARD TO RESTART, BUT WILL DRIVE SOMEWHAT BETTER. THIS ALLOWS ME TO GET TO A PLACE THAT I CAN SHUT IT OFF FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME (1/2 HOUR), AND THEN IT RUNS MORE LIKE NORMAL, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT, IT IS RUNNING NORMAL AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. SO FAR, THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'M SURE SOMEBODY WILL BE HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THIS GETS RECALLED. GOOD LUCK FOLLOW DRIVERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. THE HIGH BEAMS ARE THE ONLY FUNCTIONAL LIGHTS WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THIS FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT A T.I.M.P. PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,055. VF

HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT, AFTER CHECKING THE BULB AND FOUND IT GOOD. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND I NEED TO INVEST $1200.00 TO REPLACE THE TIPM. HEAD LIGHTS ARE A REQUIRED SERVICE ON ANY AUTOMOBILE TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY. WHEN IS DODGE GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE A RECALL AND SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANY LOSS OF LIFE IS INCURRED. BY THEIR KNOWING THIS PROBLEM EXISTS THEY ARE OPEN A LARGE LAW SUIT WHEN AN INJURY OCCURS. *TR

I SEE THAT GM HAS FINALLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THEIR ENGINES STALLING AND I'M WONDERING IF CHRYSLER EVER WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAME THING? THERE 2007 DODGE CALIBER STALLS WITH A FLASHING LEFT LIGHT, WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CHRYSLER, THE NHTSA, AND TRANSPORT CANADA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT NOTHING IS EVER DONE ABOUT IT. CONSUMERS ARE JUST LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND IT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

THE HINGES FAIL ON DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE THE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT GETS STUCK WIDE OPEN IF FORCE SHUT CAUSE YOU HAVE NO TOOLS TO PRY BOTTOM HINGE BACK IN PLACE IT CAUSES A HUGE DENT IN FRONT FENDER... THERE ARE A HUGE AMOUNT OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE SO I THINK IT'S A BIG FLAW! I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MINE WITH USED ONE'S AND DO EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HINGES... IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOUR DOOR IT WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY IF YOU MANAGE TO GET IT TO CLOSING POINT BECAUSE THE DOOR LATCH WILL NO LONGER LINE UP PROPERLY... SAFETY ISSUES MY DOOR OPENED ON ME GOING DOWN THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME WITH IT GOING AROUND A CORNER...THANK GOD I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON... SOME LINKS TO MORE COMPLAINTS..HTTP://DODGEFORUM.COM/FORUM/DODGE-CALIBER/284660-DOOR-HINGE-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://ANSWERS.YAHOO.COM/QUESTION/INDEX?QID=20091111084343AAIHADT HTTP://CALIBERFORUMZ.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=35636HTTP://WWW.QFAK.COM/CARS_TRANSPORTATION/MAINTENANCE_REPAIR/?ID=208841#.UXJ4H38O4V4 AND MANY MORE.... *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I-10 AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SLOWED DOWN DESPITE MY FOOT STILL BEING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COASTED TO THE MEDIAN, AND WAITED FOR 3-4 MINUTES, (MOSTLY TO CATCH MY BREATH AS I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT RUN OVER BY SEMI'S) I RESTARTED THE MPH WAS THE NORM) I HAD TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE CONTROL BOARD FOR THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND OWNERS OF A DODGE CALIBER IF IT IS A COMMON DEFECT. 07DODCALIBER/PC684 DODGE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *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

AT 47,000 MILES HAD A 800.00 REPAIR TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOTH SIDES. ALSO REPLACED THE OUTER TIE RODS AND NEW TIRES, FRONT END ALIGNMENT. JUST UNDER 2 YEARS SINCE THIS WAS DONE ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING INCIDENT WITH THE SUSPENSION, WHEELS SHIMMING AT 40MPH. CALLED CHRYSLER, AND THEY STATED NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC THAT CHECKED THE TIRES SAID HIS WIFE HAD HER VEHICLE RECALLED FOR SIMILAR BREAKDOWNS. MY POINT ALL OF THIS STARTED AT 47,000 MILES. IF MY TIRE RODS BREAK OR SOME OTHER INCIDENT WITH THE SUSPENSION I COULD HAVE A MAJOR OR FATAL ACCIDENT IF I LOSE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. -SUSPENSION ON THESE VEHICLES IS VERY UNSAFE AS IS THE CHRYSLER NEON. NEED VERIFICATION ALSO IF THERE WAS A SILENT RECALL ON THIS, MEANING THEY ONLY PAID WHEN ASKED. THEY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM ON THE FIRST INCIDENT AND PAID 400.00 AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE. THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS JUST PLAIN SLOPPY ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. *TR