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
What owners actually said
360 reports
115,860 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO AND WAS BECOMING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER DODGE JEEP RAM (13001 BROOK PARK ROAD, BROOK PARK, OH 44142) WHERE IT WAS DIAGN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO AND WAS BECOMING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER DODGE JEEP RAM (13001 BROOK PARK ROAD, BROOK PARK, OH 44142) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,860.
NHTSA ODI #11141315
75,000 miles · Oct 16, 2018
StructureSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER HAD SEPARATED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER HAD SEPARATED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (HALEY OF FARMVILLE, 1906 S. MAIN ST., FARMVILLE, VA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TT *JB
NHTSA ODI #11140652
95,000 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Structure
MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER IS RUSTING ALL OVER DUE TO CHRYSLER NOT PREPPING/COATING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE ON REPLACED DUE TO RUST, THE OIL PAN AND THE POWER STEERING LINE RUSTED. I HAVE RUST ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE WHEEL WELL, BOTTOM OF DOORS, TRANSMISSION P…
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MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER IS RUSTING ALL OVER DUE TO CHRYSLER NOT PREPPING/COATING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE ON REPLACED DUE TO RUST, THE OIL PAN AND THE POWER STEERING LINE RUSTED. I HAVE RUST ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE WHEEL WELL, BOTTOM OF DOORS, TRANSMISSION PAN, ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD, MULTIPLE PLACES ON THE HOOD, BOTTOM OF THE HATCH, ROCKER PANELS, HINGES ETC.... WAY TOO MANY PLACES FOR A VEHICLE THAT AGE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER 2008'S WITH NO RUST AT ALL. I HAVE MULTIPLE PICTURES BUT IT WILL ONLY ALLOW 5.
NHTSA ODI #11131555
94,000 miles · Sep 10, 2018
Suspension
SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH. DIAGNOSED THIS PAST SATURDAY. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON A VEHICLE. PICTURE ATTACHED.
NHTSA ODI #11128580
128,000 miles · Sep 1, 2018
StructureSuspension
THE PROBLEM DEAL WITH THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. THIS PART IS TOTAL JUNK. IT IS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OUR FINDING IT NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE AND FINDING THE 2007 CALIBER'S WERE HANDLED UNDER A "RECALL" BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. A…
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THE PROBLEM DEAL WITH THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. THIS PART IS TOTAL JUNK. IT IS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OUR FINDING IT NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE AND FINDING THE 2007 CALIBER'S WERE HANDLED UNDER A "RECALL" BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. AFTER JUST LEAVING HOME THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PULLED BADLY TO THE RIGHT, WHILE MAKING SCREAKING NOISES. THE CAR WAS LIMPED BACK INTO THE DRIVE AND THE PROBLEM FOUND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY POORLY MADE PART, PROBABLY WITH INFERIOR STEEL. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO (2) PICTURES OF THE OLD SUBFRAME. THE CAR IS REGISTERED TO MY DAUGHTER [XXX] , I AM HER FATHER [XXX]. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AND THEY INFORMED ME TO CONTACT DODGE/CHRYSLER WHICH I DID. THEY INFORMED THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY DID TAKE MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE WITH ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS TYPE OF CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION. [XXX]OR BY CELL PHONE [XXX]. I WOULD APPRECIATED ANY TYPE OF REPLY. SINCERELY [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11123912
147,000 miles · Aug 5, 2018
StructureSuspension
I TOOK CAR IN TO HAVE BALL JOINTS REPLACEDPLUS THE STEERING AND STRUTS LOOKED AT. MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH. NO OTHER WORK CAN BE DONE ON THE CAR WITH THIS HUGE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11115837
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2018
Electrical SystemService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RADIO AND DOME LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM GREENSB…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RADIO AND DOME LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM GREENSBORO (3710 W WENDOVER AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27407, (336) 790-9850), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11115596
153,245 miles · Jul 24, 2018
StructureSuspension
VEHICLE ARRIVED AT OUR SHOP FOR A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AND ON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD ROTTED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THE CUSTOMER AND FOUND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE NO EXPIRATION DATE. PHOTO IS AVAILABLE IF THER…
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VEHICLE ARRIVED AT OUR SHOP FOR A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AND ON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD ROTTED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THE CUSTOMER AND FOUND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE NO EXPIRATION DATE. PHOTO IS AVAILABLE IF THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11113279
70,000 miles · Jul 18, 2018
Structure
AIR CONDENSER DRIPS OUTLET DIRECTLY ONTO ENGINE CRADLE WHICH CAUSES THE CRADLE TO RUST KNOW PROBLEM TO FCA AND IT SHOULD BE KNOWN TO NHTSA AS SEPARATION OF ENGINE CRADLE CAUSES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE
NHTSA ODI #11112169
174,000 miles · Jul 2, 2018
Structure
TAKING THE CAR IN FOR ALIGNMENT, THE TECH NOTICE THE SUB FRAME HAD A LARGE HOLE FROM RUST.. TAKING THE CAR TO THE DODGE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANGER STATED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, I WAS TOLD "S*** OUT OF LUCK". HE SAID I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE, AND PAST THE TEN YEARS. THE CAR WAS IN FOR ITS LIFE TIME POWERTRAIN INSPECTION A MON…
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TAKING THE CAR IN FOR ALIGNMENT, THE TECH NOTICE THE SUB FRAME HAD A LARGE HOLE FROM RUST.. TAKING THE CAR TO THE DODGE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANGER STATED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, I WAS TOLD "S*** OUT OF LUCK". HE SAID I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE, AND PAST THE TEN YEARS. THE CAR WAS IN FOR ITS LIFE TIME POWERTRAIN INSPECTION A MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THE TEN YEARS AND REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR. THEY (DODGE REPLACE MY SONS SUBFRAME WITH WITH 140,000 MILES. HAVE THE COPY FROM THE SAME DEALER, A COPY FROM A MAN IN MICHAGAN WHOSE FRAME BROKE GET ON I-90 AND THE TOWING SERVICE SAID THEY GET ONE TO TWO PICKUP PER WEEK ON FRAMES BRAKING. ALSO I HAVE NOT RECVIED ANY LETTER DODGE ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11105061
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.
2008 Dodge Caliber Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year