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 reports
176,417 miles · Dec 31, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER WAITING THIRTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,4…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER WAITING THIRTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,417.
NHTSA ODI #11164264
127,000 miles · Nov 9, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels
SUBFRAME ROTTED AWAY. CAUSING THE DRIVERS SIDE A-ARM TO RIP OUT. THE WHEEL WAS AT AN APPROXIMATE 90 DEGREE ANGLE FROM NORMAL POSITION. CAUSED THE DRIVESHAFT TO PULL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP.
NHTSA ODI #11150325
25 miles · Nov 2, 2018
Power TrainSteeringSuspension
TRANSMISSION OVER HEATING ON HIGHWAY.. FRONT STEERING AND SUSPENSION KEEP NEEDS REPAIRED. NOISE IN FRONT WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11144934
57,455 miles · Sep 16, 2018
Unknown Or Other
MY TRANSMISSION IS LUNGING FORWARD T ALL RATES OF SPEED
NHTSA ODI #11129748
80,000 miles · Sep 11, 2018
Power TrainSuspension
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS QUICKLY AND CAR LOSES POWER. AAMCO HAS REPLACED IT NUMEROUS TIMES. ADDED EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER. PROBLEM PERSISTS. SUSPENSION IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11128809
67,800 miles · Jul 27, 2018
Power Train
DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN MANUFACTURE HAD CLEAR KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE CAR WENT IN PRODUCT AND WAS MANUFACTURED. WHEN CAR IN MOTION GET LOW SQUEEZING NOISE ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. TAKING A TRIP AT THAT TIME AND STILL HAVING SAME SOUND TODAY PLS JERKING.
NHTSA ODI #11114187
126,000 miles · Jun 15, 2018
Unknown Or Other
DURING AN OVERALL CHECK UP OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC FOUND RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME. HE ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT DRIVING IT FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS MAY BE PUSHING OUR LUCK.
NHTSA ODI #11101986
37,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE IS NO NOTIFICATION OTHER THAN A LIGHT AT THE TIME IT STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE TO MANEUVER CAUTIOUSLY THROUGH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES EACH TIME. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS (AND ALMOST CA…
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THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE IS NO NOTIFICATION OTHER THAN A LIGHT AT THE TIME IT STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE TO MANEUVER CAUTIOUSLY THROUGH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES EACH TIME. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS (AND ALMOST CAUSED A FEW) BECAUSE OF THE UNANNOUNCED EXTREME LOSS OF POWER. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR FOR MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FLUSHES AND FILTER CHANGES. NOTHING WORKS AND I'M REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT MANY CALIBERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT CREATED A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS REMAINED PARKED FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. MY DAUGHTER TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE TODAY AND WAS STUCK ON THE FREEWAY TWICE IN A 30 MILE TRIP DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I CANNOT SELL OR USE THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS.
NHTSA ODI #11092363
85,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND ABOUT TO DET…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND ABOUT TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CENTER HOTLINE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
NHTSA ODI #11092185
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2018
Suspension
GOT OIL CHANGE & WAS TOLD MY FRAME WAS RUSTING BAD. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC TO PUT UP ON RACKS AND I LOOKED AT IT. HE SAID IT WAS GETTING VERY RUSTED, HAD HOLES, INCLUDING THE "ARMS" THAT CONNECTED TO WHEELS.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2009 Dodge Caliber Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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