IllustrationWHILE GETTING A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION ON A LOW MILEAGE (56K) GARAGE KEPT DODGE CALIBER THE CAR FAILED DUE BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST, FRACTURES AND HOLES. BOTH THE SUBFRAMES CROSSMEMBERS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2007 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT HONORED ON THE 2008.
2008 Dodge Caliber Awd
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caliber Awd 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
Limited mileage data: 14 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Suspension complaints
5 reportsHAD TO REPLACE THE WISH BONES. AND AM ON MY 5 TH SET IF TIRES SINCE MAY OF 2012. WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP AT $130 A PIECE FOR THE CHEAPEST. ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS OFF AND TIRES HAVE TO BE PUMPED EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
FOUND BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM'S WORN TO A POINT WHERE THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS NYS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF WORN BALL JOINTS. *JS
FRONT TIRES PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING COMPLETELY. CAR HAS 38K MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $650.00 AND NOW BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT A COST OF $580.00. VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THESE LOW MILES…
Read full complaint
FRONT TIRES PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING COMPLETELY. CAR HAS 38K MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $650.00 AND NOW BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT A COST OF $580.00. VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THESE LOW MILES. THE MECHANIC SAID THE FRONT WHEELS WERE VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF OF THE CAR. CAN YOU HELP? *TR
BOTH OF THE TIE RODS ON MY CAR ARE COMPLETELY WORN AT 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE CALIBERS - PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIE RODS. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.