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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

Steering complaints

35 reports
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131,812 miles · Jul 21, 2015
Steering

THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICE THE JERKING BACK AND FORTH ON THE ACCELERATOR ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR OR SO AND IT ALSO HAS A BAD VIBRATION SOON AS YOU START THE MOTOR AND LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT BOLTED DOWN IS STALLED ON ME ABOUT 5-6 TIMES AS IT WAS JERKING BACK AND FORTH A…

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THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICE THE JERKING BACK AND FORTH ON THE ACCELERATOR ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR OR SO AND IT ALSO HAS A BAD VIBRATION SOON AS YOU START THE MOTOR AND LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT BOLTED DOWN IS STALLED ON ME ABOUT 5-6 TIMES AS IT WAS JERKING BACK AND FORTH AND WHEN I GO OVER POTHOLES IN THE ROAD OR A SMALL BUMP IT CLUNKS IN THE FRONT AND LIKE THE STRUTS ARE LOOSE

NHTSA ODI #10735484

110,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

I BOUGHT MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER IN JULY 2010. IT HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS A CAMPAIGN CAR. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH PICKUP. ACCELERATION IS NOT GREAT, BUT WE NOTICED ON A JULY 4 TRIP, THAT THE CAR WAS NOT ONLY MAKING THE "NORMAL" STEERING/SUSPENSION NOISE, BUT IT WAS ALSO MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE THAT MY HUSBAND F…

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I BOUGHT MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER IN JULY 2010. IT HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS A CAMPAIGN CAR. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH PICKUP. ACCELERATION IS NOT GREAT, BUT WE NOTICED ON A JULY 4 TRIP, THAT THE CAR WAS NOT ONLY MAKING THE "NORMAL" STEERING/SUSPENSION NOISE, BUT IT WAS ALSO MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE THAT MY HUSBAND FEARED WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE WHIRRING NOISE WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE ALTERNATOR IS BAD. $550.00. THE BALL JOINTS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, $1040. THE STRUTS ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FRONT BRAKES. $800. YES, MY CAR HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THE TRADE IN VALUE IS ONLY ABOUT $3500 ANYWAY. ITS LUCKILY BEEN PAID OFF FOR MANY YEARS. THE BALL JOINT/TIE ROD ISSUE IS VERY WORRYSOME, THOUGH. IT IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10735293

155,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER WE BOUGHT IT IN APRIL 2013 AND ABOUT EVERY 5-6 MONTHS WE HAVE TO REPLACE STRUTS, BALL JOINTS,ETC. PLUS HAVE THE SWAY BAR WORKED ON THAT OFTEN AS WELL..... DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL ALL THESE CARS WITH THIS DEFECT AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALIGNMENTS... THESE CARS ARE VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE…

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I HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER WE BOUGHT IT IN APRIL 2013 AND ABOUT EVERY 5-6 MONTHS WE HAVE TO REPLACE STRUTS, BALL JOINTS,ETC. PLUS HAVE THE SWAY BAR WORKED ON THAT OFTEN AS WELL..... DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL ALL THESE CARS WITH THIS DEFECT AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALIGNMENTS... THESE CARS ARE VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO DEFECTED AND NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL THIS AND KEEP THEIR CARS IN SHOPS EVERY 5-6 MONTHS... PLEASE DODGE DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL OF THIS...

NHTSA ODI #10733672

59,365 miles · Apr 28, 2015
SteeringSuspension

A TECHNICIAN STATED FRONT CRADLE (CONNECTS STEERING, SUSPENSION, ETC PARTS) IS ROTTED & REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. CALLED CHRYSLER (800-247-9763) AND INQUIRED ABOUT CHRYSLER ACTION # 23-012-14, THEY STATED THEY EXTEND WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS ON 2007'S BUT WOULD NOT COVER MY 2008 DODGE CALIPER. THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. T…

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A TECHNICIAN STATED FRONT CRADLE (CONNECTS STEERING, SUSPENSION, ETC PARTS) IS ROTTED & REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. CALLED CHRYSLER (800-247-9763) AND INQUIRED ABOUT CHRYSLER ACTION # 23-012-14, THEY STATED THEY EXTEND WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS ON 2007'S BUT WOULD NOT COVER MY 2008 DODGE CALIPER. THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE & I FEEL THIS IS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY CHRYSLER/DODGE. I NEED ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COVERED IN FULL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713415

81,000 miles · Apr 25, 2015
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. I WASH AND MAINTAIN IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS CAR HAS A TERRIBLE SUSPENSION SINCE IT WAS NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS BECAUSE OF THE REAR BUSHINGS AND LOOSE BALL JOINTS, ONE AT 32,000 MILES. BOTH REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR LINKS. IT IS AN ALIGNMENT NIGHTMARE. I TOOK IT T…

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I HAVE A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. I WASH AND MAINTAIN IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS CAR HAS A TERRIBLE SUSPENSION SINCE IT WAS NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS BECAUSE OF THE REAR BUSHINGS AND LOOSE BALL JOINTS, ONE AT 32,000 MILES. BOTH REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR LINKS. IT IS AN ALIGNMENT NIGHTMARE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL GARAGE FOR AN ALIGNMENT AFTER I CHANGED SOME PARTS THIS MORNING AND THE BACK OF THE SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT. THE CAR ISN'T 6 YEARS OLD AND THE BODY STILL LOOKS GREAT. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WOULDN'T COMMIT TO A BULLETIN #23-012-14 , THAT COVERED 2007. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712841

26,700 miles · Nov 8, 2014
SteeringSuspension

WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DID AN INSPECTION AND SAID THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE SHOWING WEAR AND PLAY. WHEN HE LET THE CAR DOWN AND SAW THE MILEAGE WAS 26,700 HE SAID THAT THE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD UNLESS I WAS OFF ROADING THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN 4 MILES ROUND TRIP ON…

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WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DID AN INSPECTION AND SAID THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE SHOWING WEAR AND PLAY. WHEN HE LET THE CAR DOWN AND SAW THE MILEAGE WAS 26,700 HE SAID THAT THE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD UNLESS I WAS OFF ROADING THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN 4 MILES ROUND TRIP ON PAVED MAINTAINED ROADS DAILY AT 30 MPH. AND ON OCCASIONALLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS OF 55MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR KNOWN COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2007 WHEN THEY CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653587

118,000 miles · Nov 1, 2014
SteeringSuspension

MY VEHICLE WON'T STAY ALIGNED. AND NOW IT HAS A BAD JERK IN IT. YOU CAN BE GOING 10 MPH OR 50 MPH AND IT STILL JERKS YOU TO THE LEFT. YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON IT SO MANY TIMES. WE HAVE BOUGHT TIERODS FOR IT AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE HELPING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651849

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2013
SteeringSuspension

FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS. CAUSED PULLING WHILE DRIVE AND TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550927

40,000 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Steering

LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STREEING.*JS

NHTSA ODI #10545493

140,000 miles · Apr 1, 2013
Power TrainSteering

I WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TIE ROD. THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR OR I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN IS SOME GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THESE CARS!! THIS W…

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I WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TIE ROD. THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR OR I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN IS SOME GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THESE CARS!! THIS WILL B THE LAST DODGE I EVER BUY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505282

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.