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2008 Dodge Caliber

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Caliber years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Dodge Caliber are substantially higher than the model-year median of 165.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

294 reports with mileage · 66 unknown

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.

  • Suspension. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine complaints

43 reports
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71,000 miles · Nov 16, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 DODGE CALIBER WHEN ACCELERATION WAS LOST. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHEN SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT FUEL AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM LIKE CAME ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE WAS VERY SHAKEN BY THIS ORDEAL. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED THROUGH CARMAX, WITH A 300.00 DEDUCTIB…

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MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 DODGE CALIBER WHEN ACCELERATION WAS LOST. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHEN SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT FUEL AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM LIKE CAME ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE WAS VERY SHAKEN BY THIS ORDEAL. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED THROUGH CARMAX, WITH A 300.00 DEDUCTIBLE, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD ONLY PAY 144.00 DOLLARS OF THE 647.00 TOTAL BILL. THE CAR HAS APPROX 70,000 MILES SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE THROTTLE SYSTEM WOULD BE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE NEEDLE INSIDE THE THROTTLE THAT FEEDS THE FUEL WAS DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN IT WENT OUT, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. I AM VOICING MY COMPLAINT ON THIS PART AND ALL BE WARE OF THE THROTTLE NEEDLE GOING BAD. I WILL ALSO MAKE THIS A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH DODGE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484914

77,000 miles · Aug 7, 2012
EnginePower Train

DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER WILL RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BECAME HARD TO HANDLE. WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A CITY STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPP…

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DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER WILL RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BECAME HARD TO HANDLE. WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A CITY STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A VERY BUSY STREET OR THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO OR VERY LITTLE POWER TO GET IT OUT OF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR MORE TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO WARNING OTHER THEN THE LIGHT THAT CAME ON WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469458

45,000 miles · Aug 4, 2012
Engine

THE CAR HAS JUST SHUT DOWN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES NOW (WHILE DRIVING) AND HAS LEFT US STRANDED IN THE ARIZONA DESERT EACH TIME. WE WILL BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND WILL NOT TURN BACK ON UNTIL ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK IT TO BRAKES PLUS AFTER IT HAPPENED THE FIRST T…

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THE CAR HAS JUST SHUT DOWN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES NOW (WHILE DRIVING) AND HAS LEFT US STRANDED IN THE ARIZONA DESERT EACH TIME. WE WILL BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND WILL NOT TURN BACK ON UNTIL ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK IT TO BRAKES PLUS AFTER IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT THEN HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND NOW AGAIN TODAY. I AM SCARED TO PUT MY FAMILY IN THE FAMILY CAR. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I'M GOING TO CALL DODGE AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. I CAME ON HERE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. APPARENTLY THEY DO. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN UNLESS THEY COME UP WITH AN ANSWER TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469205

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.