2008 Dodge Caliber

2008 Dodge Caliber with approx. 135,000 miles on it. Rotted subframe and rusted crossbar. Vehicle started swerving as if driving on ice (in the summertime!). Took it to a reputable mechanic and he wouldn't even put it on a lift. He said it was too much of a risk. I understand this is common on this vehicle, it's dangerous and should be recalled! NO more Dodge vehicles for me, ever!

I was informed at inspection that the main front cross member has a huge hole in the center of it and is rusting out badly. At 162,356 miles this car will not pass safety inspection. This car is not safe for me or my family. No warning lamps or messages. I was told that one bad bump could do us in. We were told to contact the dealership and found out about the extended warranty that had already passed during the previous owners time. This should have been a recall, but what else can you expect from dodge.

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TECHNICIAN TOLD US THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED THROUGHOUT AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN ADVISED IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS MODEL WAS GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER X69 NOTICE, HOWEVER WARRANTY MAY HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE X69 NOTICE BUT WAS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED IN JUNE 2018. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF VEHICLE BAND NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE ISSUE FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE. THE CROSSMEMBER RUST ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL FOR THIS PART.

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SHE COULD NOT SAFELY OPERATE IT WITHOUT REPAIR. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO A FIRESTONE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER AND TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DODGE KNEW ABOUT, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY ME ABOUT. I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THIS PROBLEM HAD EXPIRED IN 2018 AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF ANY REPAIRS. I OWNED THE CAR DURING THAT TIME AND I DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, SO I COULD NOT ACT ON GETTING IT REPAIRED. THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO KILL PEOPLE WHEN THE SUBFRAME RUSTS OUT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, BUT HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE KILLED HER AND MY SON, AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. NUMBER: 23-007-17 REV. B GROUP: BODY DATE: MARCH 10, 2017 *TR

MY VEHICLE WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY SUB FRAME IS RUSTING AND UNTIL MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS REPLACED TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IT IS UNSAFE. MY NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND HE BELIEVED THEIR TO BE A RECALL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND COULDN'T FIND A RECALL BUT EVENTUALLY I FOUND SOMETHING ON CHRYSLER'S WEBSITE ABOUT X69 CORROSION THAT AFFECTED 2008 TO 2012 CALIBERS AND JEEP COMPASSES. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEVER TOLD ANYONE TO LOOK FOR THIS. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SO I WAS OUT OF LUCK. MY FAMILY'S SAFETY HAS AN EXPIRATION??? I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD MY FRAME CHECKED NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND BECAUSE IT WASN'T A MANDATED RECALL THEY ONLY HAVE TO FIX THE ONES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO A DEALER WITHIN 10 YEARS? IF THEY FIX SOMEWHERE ELSE THEY WON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS UNFAIR. THEY USED SUB PAR PARTS AND NOW CONSUMERS ARE THEY ONE PUTTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE CARS. SAFETY SHOULD NOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE CAR BUT I WILL NOT PUT MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT'S AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY KNEW ABOUT AND IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A MECHANIC CHECK A FEW MONTHS AGO I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT AND COULD HAVE HAD IT REPLACED FOR FREE FROM THEM BUT I GUESS THEY WIN IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE I NEVER KNEW TO LOOK FOR IT. MY SAFETY SHOULD NOT COME WITH AN EXPIRATION.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I LOVE DRIVING MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER AND WISH THAT IT WAS WORTH REPAIRING ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT I AM RESEARCHING ARE COMMON PROBLEMS AMONG FELLOW OWNERS OF THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. AS A PERSON WHO PAYS CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE, REPAIR COSTS HAVE BEEN ADDING UP OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. STARTING WITH A COMPLETE REPAIR RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION INCLUDING THE CONTROL ARMS/ BUSHINGS, SWAY BAR, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS, WHICH HAS CAUSED MY 4 NEW TIRES TO EXPERIENCE A SHORTENED LIFESPAN DUE TO UNEVEN WEARING. RECENTLY, I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP TO ADDRESS A LOUD NOISE I WAS HEARING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A LONG LIST OF ISSUES, INCLUDING RUSTING/CORROSION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE AND FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION THAT IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL OPINION DETERMINED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. AT THIS POINT, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THE RUSTING/CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME, AS I WAS UNAWARE AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICES FOR ANY OF THE LISTED RECALLS. TODAY, I FIND MYSELF RESEARCHING THE LIST OF PROBLEMS THAT THE MECHANIC INDICATED WITH THE SUSPENSION AND ROTTING ENGINE CRADLE AND WILL UNFORTUNATELY NOT BE WORTH PUTTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO TO MAKE IT SAFE, AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HONOURED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE PROPER STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN AN OBVIOUS ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHERS DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ROTTING ENGINE CRADLE AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS ON THAT AND/OR SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONS? THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT MINOR AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AS I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND SAFETY CONCERNS THIS POSES TO OPERATORS OR OTHERS IN THE VEHICLE PRESENCE.