2009 Dodge Caliber

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 75 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED A VALVE THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FAILING TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. AT TIMES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH A SAFE SPEED WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE DECELERATION HAS NOW STARTED AT A MUCH LOWER SPEED. WHEN IT OCCURRED, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME SHE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND SIT FOR 15-45 MINUTES TO WAIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COOL OFF. THE TRANSMISSION VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 08/08/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER FOUND THE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS WERE CAUSING THE NOISE. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. UPDATED 08/09/12

I BOUGHT MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER BRAND NEW IN JULY 2009. I MADE MY DECISION BASED ON THE 5-YR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, ASSUMING THE CAR MUST BE MECHANICALLY DEPENDABLE. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS WRONG FOR MAKING THAT ASSUMPTION. I BEGAN TO HAVE SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. I REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES, HAD A TUNE-UP AT 65,000 MILES AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AFTER THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAD OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO SEE IF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER A REPAIR FOR MY CAR TO RUN. SINCE THIS CAR WAS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AND LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ATTEMPT REPAIRS WITH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENTS JUST TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO PAY MY MORTGAGE AND CAR NOTE. THOSE REPAIRS SEEM TO WORK AT FIRST UNTIL 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT, WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND I MANAGED TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS TURNING DARK AND MY HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED. I WAS ON SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE IN DARK FREEZING WEATHER FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE A CO-WORKER COULD FIND ME TO HELP ME TO SAFETY. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE FINANCE COMPANY. *TR

1. 2009 DODGE CALIBER SXT, WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK AND THEN LOCK THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, IN TOWN OR ON FREEWAYS. DEALER HAS HAD CAR 7 DIFFERENT TIMES, AND IS UNABLE TO REPAIR OR EVEN SEE THE FAULT, ALTHOUGH HE HAS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOUND FAULT CODES FOR STUCK DOOR LOCK SWITCH. DEALER CURRENTLY HAS CAR TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE FAULTS. MAIN DOOR LOCK SWITCH (DRIVERS SIDE) REPLACED BY DEALER. WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED BY DEALER DUE TO DEALER INSTALLED AFTER MARKET ALARM SYSTEM INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PROBLEM IS STILL THERE - I AM CONCERNED FOR MY WIFE'S SAFETY, AS SHE DRIVES HOME FROM WORK AFTER DARK, AND ON OCCASION, SHE IS UNABLE TO ELECTRICALLY RE-LOCK THE DOORS - EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF HAVING TO PULL OVER, MANUALLY PUSH ALL DOOR LOCKS DOWN, ONLY TO HAVE THEM POP UP AGAIN BEFORE SHE GETS HOME. *TR