2007 Dodge Caliber

I was informed on 09/29/2025 by my Chrysler dealer that a second critical component of my 2007 Caliber frame had rusted to the point that it broke. The first critical component was reported in my complaint tracking number 11459461 submitted on 04/03/2022. The component in that filing was the engine pan that supported the engine. On this latest failure, I was told the same thing by the shop manager: "If you hit a bump while driving this vehicle you could lose your back wheels". In the first incident, the engine could have fallen out of my vehicle. He was not going to let me drive it home. Then he changed his mind and told me it was "at my discretion". I did drive it home (4.5 miles) with no problem. He told me he was going to try and find a new or used part to fix the issue. He made it clear that he was not hopeful of finding one. This is twice now that my life and the lives of any drivers on the road at the same time were placed in danger from excessive rusting problems. I submitted files in the first incident showing that Chrysler was aware of the issue. A copy of the corporate service bulletin was attached. To my knowledge nothing was ever done. Is anything going to be done this time?

Vehicle has less than 100,000 miles (strictly highway miles) and rear sub frame has completely rusted through causing back alignment to be drastically out, and fish tailing, which also causes hazardous steering control on dry and especially wet roads. Rapid wear and replacement of tires on rear end. I have researched and found this to be a consistent problem on multiple sites and forums.

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger side. The contact looked in the rearview mirror and saw sparks coming from the rear passenger side. The contact pulled over, and upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear passenger's side tire was inward and the cross member was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 23-012-14 Front And Rear Crossmember Corrosion (X58 10 Years Unlimited Mileage). The failure mileage was unavailable.

IN THE MIDST OF ME DRIVING ACROSS THE INTERSECTION... MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY... I HAD TO GET OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THEY ENTIRE CAR... DUE TO SEVER CORROSION, YU UNDER VEHICLE.. WHEN I SAW PHOTOS... I WAS TERRIFED!! MY LIFE WAS ON JEOPARDY.. THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE... I AM SENDING PHOTOS TO HELP SUPPORT MY CLAIMS..

SO , THE CAR I PURCHASED ON AUG.2ND, OF THIS YEAR... HAS MANY ISSUES! FIRST OF ALL ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO HAVING THE VEHICLE... I NEEDED EXHAUST WORK DONE... SHORTLY AFTER THAT.. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SOME PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHEN I TOUCHED THE BREAK PEDAL, NOW I'M EXPERIENCING SOME WEIRD SITUATION UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHICH IN FACT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE AND NOW WHEN I TAP THE BREAK TO STOP THE VEHICLE THEIRS A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN I GIVE IT GAS.. IT SHREEKS! IT'S VERY TERRIFYING TO SAY THE LEAST... I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO MY RESIDENCE... I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT ALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER BAR ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CORROSION WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE CONTACT CALLED ZEIGLER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF DOWNERS GROVE LOCATED AT (2311 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515), LARRY ROESCH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM LOCATED AT (200 W GRAND AVE., ELMHURST, IL 60126), AND DUPAGE CDJR LOCATED AT (433 E NORTH AVE., GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139), WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,133.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. FURTHERMORE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED BY A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 DODGE CALIBER MAKING A U-TURN AND NOTICED A JERK IN THE STEERING. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO OUR COMPLEX AS IT WAS ONLY TWO MILES AWAY. MADE A SECOND U-TURN AND SAME THING HAPPENED. ONCE IN OUR COMPLEX AND PROCEEDED TO GO OVER THE FIRST SPEED BUMP. THE CAR STOPPED WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DROPPED. HE EXITED THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND NOTICED THE SUBFRAME HAD SNAPPENED IN HALF AND WAS RUSTED BEYOND EXTREME.

THE FIRST INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM WAS AS I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ABOVE 50 MPH). I NOTICED A DEFINITE SHAKING WHICH I TOOK TO MEAN THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS WERE WORN OUT. I REPLACED THESE PARTS AND THE TIRES AS THEY HAD BEGUN TO WEAR BADLY. I AM NOW ABOUT TO REPLACE THE SAME PARTS FOR THE FOURTH TIME! THERE ARE ALSO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. I AM REPLACING THE REAR CONTROL ARMS AND LATERAL LINKS FOR THE THIRD TIME! I DRIVE A LOT AND AT FIRST PUT THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE NUMBER OF MILES I DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT APPROXIMATELY 211,000 MILES, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! THE LAST TIME THE FRONT SUSPENSION WORE OUT, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF! THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND AS I WAS A MILE OR TWO TO MY DESTINATION, I SLOWED TO A CRAWL AND WHEN I ARRIVED I WAS NEARLY SICK WHEN I SAW HOW BAD IT WAS. NOW THE FRONT AND THE REAR ARE BAD AT THE SAME TIME. HELP ME OUT PLEASE! I'M AT MY WITS END AS I STILL OWE SOMEONE MONEY I HAD TO BORROW THE LAST TIME I NEEDED THIS FIXED. I REALLY DON'T WANT A CAR PAYMENT NOW AS MY WIFE LOST HER JOB RECENTLY.