IllustrationRUSTED SUB-FRAME & OIL PAN
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caliber years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
4325–50K
5850–75K
5575–100K
83100–150K
31150K+
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
Structure complaints
87 reportsTOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT MY K FRAME ROTTING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WORKED ON A JEEP COMPASS WITH SAME PROBLEMS AND CHRYSLER HAD A EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING IT. CALLED DODGE THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT INTO A DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN VERIFY AND WHEN THEY DID VERIFY IT THEY TOLD CHRYSLER ABOUT THE ISSUE…
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TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT MY K FRAME ROTTING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WORKED ON A JEEP COMPASS WITH SAME PROBLEMS AND CHRYSLER HAD A EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING IT. CALLED DODGE THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT INTO A DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN VERIFY AND WHEN THEY DID VERIFY IT THEY TOLD CHRYSLER ABOUT THE ISSUE. CHRYSLER CALLED AND TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT FIX MY FRONT K FRAME BECAUSE I HAD RECENTLY PUT IN AFTER MARKET PARTS IN THE REAR OF MY CAR WHICH CAUSED MY FRONT K FRAME TO RUST AND I'VE ONLY HAD THOSE PARTS INSTALLED A WEEK BEFORE TAKING IT TO DODGE. SO I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. THERE'S NO NEED TO MAKE EXCUSES OR LIES IF THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX AND THAT I'VE TALKED TO MY MAIN MECHANIC, THE ALIGNMENT MECHANIC, AND THE DODGE SERVICE REP., ALL 3 SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AND IS DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING AS THE FRONT K FRAME HOLDS MOSTLY EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD. SAD AS IT IS CHRYSLER GAVE NO CARE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
DOOR HINGE ISSUE. INITIALLY THE DOOR SEEMED JUST STUCK DIFFICULT TO CLOSE SPRAYED WD-40 WHEN NEEDED. THE OTHER DAY THE ENTIRE DOOR SHIFTED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE SPRING AND HINGE DISLOCATED SHIFTING DOOR WHERE IT CATCHES BENDS THE FRONT FENDER. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS COMMON
A FRAME RUSTED OUT AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER THE CAR HAS NO RUST AND NOW IT'S A SAGGY ISSUE
ENGINE CRADLE IS ROTTED CLEAR OUT AN ACTUALLY BROKE! THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.IM SURE THE BACK END IS THE SAME WAY! DODGE WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 2007 CALIBERS.MINE WAS MADE IN FEB. OF 2008, IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PARTS!! BEEN TRYING TO GET DODGE TO OWN UP AN FIX THIS PROBLEM.NEEDLESS TO SAY…
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ENGINE CRADLE IS ROTTED CLEAR OUT AN ACTUALLY BROKE! THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.IM SURE THE BACK END IS THE SAME WAY! DODGE WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 2007 CALIBERS.MINE WAS MADE IN FEB. OF 2008, IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PARTS!! BEEN TRYING TO GET DODGE TO OWN UP AN FIX THIS PROBLEM.NEEDLESS TO SAY I WON'T EVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT.ALSO I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRAME BROKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70, 000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING AND FRONT SUSPENSION PLATES HAVE FAILED OR BROKEN TWICE ON THIS CAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS SEEM VERY SIMILAR DEALER SEEMS TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL FIX IT FOR 2000.00 CAR PULLS OR VEERS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE MOVING I CANNOT I FEEL SAFELY DRIVE ANYMORE. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.