IllustrationTHE CAR JUST STOPPED. I COULDN'T MOVE RATHER IT WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE.
2009 Dodge Caliber
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Dodge Caliber do not stand out strongly from 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
230–25K
2725–50K
3750–75K
3275–100K
48100–150K
20150K+
187 reports with mileage · 45 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.
- Power Train. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
232 reportsWHILE STATIONARY DURING COLD START, CAR CRANKS AND RUNS, BUT AUTOMATICALLY STARTS IN LIMP MODE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SAYING TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND WHILE IN MOTION IT WILL NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH. EVEN ON COLD DAYS. BEEN HEARING ALOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,795.
THE FRONT SUB-FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED / RUSTED. I NOTICED THIS WHEN DOING FRONT END WORK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
THE THROTTLE BODY SEEMS TO BE A HUGE THING EVEN ON YOUTUBE, IT KEEPS GOING OUT. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING YOU REPLACE. IT'S FAULTY AND NOW MINE HAD JUST BROKE DOWN AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH A 300 THROTTLE BODY. THIS SHOULD DEFIANTLY BE A RECALL ASAP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION HIMSELF, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KAYSER CHRYSLER DODGE (866 PHILLIPS BLVD, SAUK CITY, WI 53583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION HIMSELF, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KAYSER CHRYSLER DODGE (866 PHILLIPS BLVD, SAUK CITY, WI 53583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBERS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT EXTENDED THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DECLINED REPAIRS BASED ON THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *BF
THE RECALL U HAVE THAT U SAY HAS NOT EFFECTED MINE HAS. I'VE ALREADY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR AND A GAS TANK, ALL THE LINES AND NOW THE CAR IS STILL SHUTTING OFF/DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE RECALL IS EXACTLY WAT THE MECHANIC SAYS NEEDS DONE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THE REPAIR. NO ADVANCED READ OUT MACHINERY TO CHANGE…
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THE RECALL U HAVE THAT U SAY HAS NOT EFFECTED MINE HAS. I'VE ALREADY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR AND A GAS TANK, ALL THE LINES AND NOW THE CAR IS STILL SHUTTING OFF/DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE RECALL IS EXACTLY WAT THE MECHANIC SAYS NEEDS DONE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THE REPAIR. NO ADVANCED READ OUT MACHINERY TO CHANGE OR REPROGRAM. I NEED THIS RECALL ON MINE. THERE'S NO WAY U GOT EVERY ONE THAT WAS RECALLED. LIKE I SAID JEFF BRADLEY IS THE MECHANIC THAT'S FINE ALL THE WORK THE NEW MOTOR THE GAS TANK AND LINES, AND NOW IT'S STILL SHUTTING DOWN. THERE IS NO DASH LIGHTS THAT CONE N AT ALL
MY CAR IS STUTTERING/JOLTING UPON PUTTING IT IN DRIVE & STOPPING & DRIVING (AFTER STOPPING @ TRAFFIC LIGHTS & STOP SIGNS). ALSO, IT TAKES A BIT FOR THE CAR TO INCREASE IN SPEED ONCE I'M STOPPED (@ TRAFFIC LIGHTS & STOP SIGNS) & HAVE TO START DRIVING AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE FOR THE PAST MONTH NOW.
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE REPEATEDLY DURING A ROAD TRIP IN SUMMER OF 2017 ON THE FREEWAY. FLUSHING AND REPLACING FILTER FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. JUNE OF 2018, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO, AND THEY REBUILT IT FOR $2800. FIXED THE ISSUE AGAIN FOR ABOUT A YEAR. FAILED AGAIN JU…
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TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE REPEATEDLY DURING A ROAD TRIP IN SUMMER OF 2017 ON THE FREEWAY. FLUSHING AND REPLACING FILTER FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. JUNE OF 2018, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO, AND THEY REBUILT IT FOR $2800. FIXED THE ISSUE AGAIN FOR ABOUT A YEAR. FAILED AGAIN JUNE OF 2019, TOOK IT TO AAMCO AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THREE DAYS AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE SHOP, THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND GO INTO LIMP MODE YET AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON AN INCLINE, THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LARRY HILLIS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT AT 573-785-5769 …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON AN INCLINE, THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LARRY HILLIS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT AT 573-785-5769 (LOCATED AT 3211 N WESTWOOD BLVD, POPLAR BLUFF, MO 63901) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *AS
Official recalls
108V528000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Oct 9, 2008
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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.