Illustration2008 DODGE CALIBER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUB-FRAME CORROSION REPAIR ISSUES, REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS DENIED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SAME PREMATURE CORROSION WAS ISSUED FOR 2007 DODGE CALIBER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION. *JB
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 reportsI HAD A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FIRST NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL AT 55 MPH. I THEN STARTED HEARING CLUNKING SOUNDS WHILE STEERING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. I TOOK IT IN THINKING THAT IT'S A BALL JOINT, BECAUSE I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT AROUND 75,000 MILE, WHILE THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. THE MOTOR CRADLE WAS…
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I HAD A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FIRST NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL AT 55 MPH. I THEN STARTED HEARING CLUNKING SOUNDS WHILE STEERING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. I TOOK IT IN THINKING THAT IT'S A BALL JOINT, BECAUSE I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT AROUND 75,000 MILE, WHILE THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. THE MOTOR CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED PLUS 2 LOWER CONTROL ARMS. IT COST ME 1458. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A RECALL OF THE 2007 MODEL. MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 2007, AND THE CUTOFF DATE WAS JULY 2007. I HAVE PHOTOS AND INVOICES ATTACHED.
DRIVING AND STEERING GOT LOSE.PULLED INTO WORK AND WAS TURNING THE WHEEL HEARD CRUNCHING NOSE.GOT OUT AT LOOKED STEERING GEAR BOX WAS MOVING ON FRAME AND ALL KINDS OF RUST WAS FALLING OFF.I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHRYSLER DEALER SHIP AND WAITING ON TO SEE IF THE SUBFRAME BEING RUSTED OUT IS COVERED IN ANY WAY.THIS SEEMS TO BE A CO…
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DRIVING AND STEERING GOT LOSE.PULLED INTO WORK AND WAS TURNING THE WHEEL HEARD CRUNCHING NOSE.GOT OUT AT LOOKED STEERING GEAR BOX WAS MOVING ON FRAME AND ALL KINDS OF RUST WAS FALLING OFF.I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHRYSLER DEALER SHIP AND WAITING ON TO SEE IF THE SUBFRAME BEING RUSTED OUT IS COVERED IN ANY WAY.THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 24 MILES A DAY AND KEEPED IN A GARAGE AND WASHED.THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN 2007 MODEL DODGE CALIBERS.
CAR STARTED MAKING POPPING AND CREAKING SOUNDS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THERE IS AS FAR AS TIE RODS EVEN TO THE POINT OF MOTOR MOUNTS. LAST NIGHT I GET A CALL AND THE CAR HAD DONE SOMETHING I HAD NEVER HEARD OF. THE HARMONIC BALANCE PULLEY HAD FLOWN OFF AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I AL…
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CAR STARTED MAKING POPPING AND CREAKING SOUNDS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THERE IS AS FAR AS TIE RODS EVEN TO THE POINT OF MOTOR MOUNTS. LAST NIGHT I GET A CALL AND THE CAR HAD DONE SOMETHING I HAD NEVER HEARD OF. THE HARMONIC BALANCE PULLEY HAD FLOWN OFF AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS CAZILLION OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED ONLINE. THIS CAR LEAKS. IT HAS LEAKED SINCE DAY ONE AND THE DEALERSHIP IN CONROE, TX SAID IF YOU GET A CAR WITH A SUNROOF, ITS GONNA LEAK. THEY ARE FULL OF CRAP. THIS CAR'S HEADLINER LOOKS AS IF IT HAS BEEN TRODDEN ON WITH MUDDY BOOTS. IT LEAKED SO BAD THAT CARPETING WOULD GET WET THEN IT WAS LEAKING DOWN INTO THE DASH WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO DO WEIRD THINGS. I CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I WOULD FEEL GUILTY FOR ENDANGERING SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
WENT TO INSPECT AND FRONT CRADLE ROTTED AT 76000 MILES
MY CAR STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT, THEN HAPPENED JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH PREMATURELY. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! MILEAGE IS 114,000. I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THE RECALL THEY HAD OUT FOR…
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MY CAR STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT, THEN HAPPENED JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH PREMATURELY. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! MILEAGE IS 114,000. I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THE RECALL THEY HAD OUT FOR 2005-2007 CALIBERS ON THE SAME PART WOULD COVER MINE. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 MORE YEARS ON THOSE YEAR CARS.THEY REFUSED TO ADD THE 2008 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS.THIS IS GOING TO COST ME CLOSE TO $1600.00 AND A WEEK IN THE REPAIR SHOP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A STATE INSPECTION, IT FAILED BECAUSE THE CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
FRONT END CRADLE COMPLETELY ROTTED. TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED..HAD NOTICED A NOISE IN FRONT. RIDICULOUS THAT A CAR OF THIS YEAR WOULD BE RORTTED OUT THIS SOON. HAVE ONLY 78,923 MILES ON IT. COMPLETELY UN SAFE TO DRIVE!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE LOWER A-ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME SHOWED EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE LOWER A-ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME SHOWED EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
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.