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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
117,075 miles · Apr 22, 2018
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

SUBFRAME RUSTED CRACKS VERY DANGEROUS FREQUENT NOISES!

NHTSA ODI #11089296

131,757 miles · Apr 14, 2018
Power Train

WHEN ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE IS SLOW TO TAKE OFF WITH MAX SPEEDS OF ONLY 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND 30 MPH CITY. I HAVE PRESSED THE GAS ALL THE WAY AND CAR IS STILL LAGGING. THE CEL STAYS ON AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE READ P0722 WHICH IS TRANS OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR U1146 WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION ERROR P0717 WHICH IS INP…

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WHEN ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE IS SLOW TO TAKE OFF WITH MAX SPEEDS OF ONLY 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND 30 MPH CITY. I HAVE PRESSED THE GAS ALL THE WAY AND CAR IS STILL LAGGING. THE CEL STAYS ON AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE READ P0722 WHICH IS TRANS OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR U1146 WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION ERROR P0717 WHICH IS INPUT SPEED SENSOR 1 CIRCUIT NO SIGNAL P0700 WHICH IS TRANSAXLE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND P0712 WHICH IS TRANS FLUID TEMP SENSOR LOW INPUT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO PERFORM A TCM SOFTWARE UPDATE AND ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING EVEN AFTER THE CODES WERE CLEARED. NOW A CODE IS READ THAT HAS TO DO WITH A LARGE EVAP LEAK. AM I BEING STEERED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION SO THAT THE DEALER CAN AVOID HONORING THE FACTORY RECALL OF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V528000. MY SPECIFIC VIN DID NOT SHOW UP AS BEING RECALLED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY ISSUE CAN BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11085068

91,000 miles · Apr 8, 2018
SteeringStructureSuspension

HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND STOPPING, GOT HOME THINKING THE STRUT WAS BROKEN AND FOUND THAT THE SUB-FRAME FOR ENGINE, SWAY BAR AND TIRE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY ROTTED AND CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE READY TO BREAK IN TWO. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MILEAGE 91K.

NHTSA ODI #11083862

115,000 miles · Apr 5, 2018
EnginePower Train

AFTER 60 MINUTES DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE REVS RISE BUT SPEED FALLS. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING WARNING COMES ON ALTHOUGH THE TEMPERATURE HAS NOT RISEN VERY MUCH. CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED AND NEEDS TO WAIT 20 MINUTES FOR TEMPERATURE TO RETURN TO "NORMAL". DODGE DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS THEY WILL NOT TAKE A LO…

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AFTER 60 MINUTES DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE REVS RISE BUT SPEED FALLS. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING WARNING COMES ON ALTHOUGH THE TEMPERATURE HAS NOT RISEN VERY MUCH. CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED AND NEEDS TO WAIT 20 MINUTES FOR TEMPERATURE TO RETURN TO "NORMAL". DODGE DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS THEY WILL NOT TAKE A LONG TEST DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11083457

129,000 miles · Apr 5, 2018
Suspension

THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. A LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOUD NOISE FELT AND HEARD WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR WHILE TURNING . AFTER DOING MY OWN UNDER VEHICLE INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS MY FRIENDS SON…

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THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. A LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOUD NOISE FELT AND HEARD WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR WHILE TURNING . AFTER DOING MY OWN UNDER VEHICLE INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS MY FRIENDS SON'S CAR AND I RECOMMEND TO HIM NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY UNSAFE AND THAT HE COULD LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11083449

135,000 miles · Apr 5, 2018
StructureSuspension

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. TOLD THAT THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHR…

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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. TOLD THAT THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER. WAS THEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER AUTHORIZED IT. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL RUST FOUND THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. INFORMED THAT THIS DECISION COULD BE EXPECTED IN 2 TO 3 WEEKS. WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER AND TRANSPORTATION WHILE THEY WAITED FOR A DECISION. STILL WAITING.

NHTSA ODI #11083448

132,656 miles · Feb 22, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels

I TOOK MY WIFE'S 2009 CALIBER TO OUR MECHANIC BECAUSE SHE HEARD CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE INFORMED BY OUR MECHANIC THAT A PIECE OF FRAME STRETCHING ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE STEERING RACK AND SWAY BARS ATTACH TO THIS FRAME WORK. ALSO FRONT END COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE MAKES LOUD PLU…

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I TOOK MY WIFE'S 2009 CALIBER TO OUR MECHANIC BECAUSE SHE HEARD CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE INFORMED BY OUR MECHANIC THAT A PIECE OF FRAME STRETCHING ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE STEERING RACK AND SWAY BARS ATTACH TO THIS FRAME WORK. ALSO FRONT END COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE MAKES LOUD PLUNKING NOICES WHEN GOING OVER SMALL AND LARGE BUMPS AND MUCH WORSE WHEN HITTING POT HOLES. NO OTHER RUST IS APPARENT ON ANY FRAM WORK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY NINE YEARS OLD. I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY ODD FOR SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS MAY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE VERY SOON AND THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL THAT I AM UNAWARE OF.

NHTSA ODI #11074388

135,000 miles · Feb 9, 2018
Air Bags

WHILE TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEED (WAS NAVIGATING THRU PARKING GARAGE), WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE PASSENGER SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED (NO ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT-FRONT SEAT AT THE TIME). THERE WAS NO IMPACT/CRASH (NOT EVEN A BUMP), THE AIRBAG JUST DEPLOYED BY-ITSELF. CONTACTED FIAT/CHRYSLER. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR/INSPEC…

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WHILE TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEED (WAS NAVIGATING THRU PARKING GARAGE), WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE PASSENGER SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED (NO ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT-FRONT SEAT AT THE TIME). THERE WAS NO IMPACT/CRASH (NOT EVEN A BUMP), THE AIRBAG JUST DEPLOYED BY-ITSELF. CONTACTED FIAT/CHRYSLER. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR/INSPECTOR FROM HOUSTON (2 HOURS AWAY). TO DOWNLOAD BOSCH AIRBAG COMPUTER DATA, AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. INVESTIGATOR SPENT TWO HOURS TAKING HUNDREDS OF PICTURES, MEASUREMENTS, ETC. NOTE: SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AS WE ARE TOLD THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS. FINALLY, AFTER REQUESTING MULTIPLE TIMES (AS OWNERS MANUAL SAYS WE ARE ENTITLED TO, FIAT/CHRYSLER PROVIDED INFO DOWNLOADED FROM AIRBAG COMPUTERS WITH CDR (CRASH DATA REPORT, EVEN THO THERE WAS NO CRASH). WE UNDERSTAND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT EVENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF THE VEHICLE SITTING, NOT BEING DRIVEN, THE REPORT SAYS THERE WAS [NO EVENTS RECOVERED]. SO... IT SOUNDS LIKE THE AIRBAG COMPUTER DIDN'T KNOW THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE AIRBAG/SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH, REMAINS ILLUMINATED, WITH NO IDEA, WHATSOEVER, CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. FIAT/CHRYSLER'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE: THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE CAN RENDER NO MORE ASSISTANCE WITH THE MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11071869

135,000 miles · Feb 6, 2018
Power Train

THE CVT TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING. TO DATE, I'VE HAD IT REPLACED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FOUR TIMES. ONCE AT 17000 MILES, AGAIN AT 92000 MILES, AGAIN AT 117000 MILES, AND NOW AT 135000 MILES. NO ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, YET EACH TIME THE SAME FAILURE MODE HAPPENS - WARM TEMPERATURE, LIMP MODE, AND EVENTU…

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THE CVT TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING. TO DATE, I'VE HAD IT REPLACED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FOUR TIMES. ONCE AT 17000 MILES, AGAIN AT 92000 MILES, AGAIN AT 117000 MILES, AND NOW AT 135000 MILES. NO ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, YET EACH TIME THE SAME FAILURE MODE HAPPENS - WARM TEMPERATURE, LIMP MODE, AND EVENTUALLY A SCREAMING SOUND WITH NO ENGAGEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11067332

187,042 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

IT WAS RAINING AND AS IT WAS RAINING MY CAR STARTED TO BLINK ALL LIGHTS AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT AS I WAS DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT STARTED GOING CRAZY THE TACHOMETER WENT CRAZY AND SO DID MY SPEEDOMETER EVENTUALLY MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT THE ACCELORAT…

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IT WAS RAINING AND AS IT WAS RAINING MY CAR STARTED TO BLINK ALL LIGHTS AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT AS I WAS DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT STARTED GOING CRAZY THE TACHOMETER WENT CRAZY AND SO DID MY SPEEDOMETER EVENTUALLY MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT THE ACCELORATOR WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. AND THAN EVENTUALLY IT JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER WHEN I TRIED TURNING THE CAR BACK ON.THE STARTED WOULDNT ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD START TILL I PUT UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND HOOKED IT BACK IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 12/25/2016 6/15/2017 AND AGAIN TODAY 11/3/2017 THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MY FATHER OWNED THE VEHICLE AS WELL BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM.

NHTSA ODI #11043057

Official recalls

1

08V528000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.