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2008 Dodge Caliber

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Caliber years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Dodge Caliber are substantially higher than the model-year median of 165.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

294 reports with mileage · 66 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

15 reports
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283,000 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Electrical SystemService BrakesWheels

THE FRONT CALIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS NO STOPPING POWER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND CALIPERS ARE NEW REPLACEMENTS. AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS IT NOW SMELL OF BURNT BRAKE FLUID BUT THERE IS NO LEAK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS…

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THE FRONT CALIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS NO STOPPING POWER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND CALIPERS ARE NEW REPLACEMENTS. AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS IT NOW SMELL OF BURNT BRAKE FLUID BUT THERE IS NO LEAK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DOING 45-50 ON A COUNTY RD WHEN A ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT 20 FEET AWAY AND I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN I LOST THE FRONT BRAKES AS PISHED IN ON THE PUSHED IN ON THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SANK AND THEY DIDN'T ENGAGE. I THEN BOUGHT THE NEW CALIPERS AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE SECOND TIME I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHEN THE ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN ME RUNNING A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST GETTING HIT. IT HAS CORRODED AND TOOK HUNKS OFF ALUMINUM FROM MY FRONT DRIVER RIM. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM AND KEEP REPLACING PARTS FOR IT TO TEAR UP NEW ONES

NHTSA ODI #11386118

112,850 miles · Jun 28, 2019
Power TrainService BrakesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE TO FRACTURE. ALSO, THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS TILTED INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE AXLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE TO FRACTURE. ALSO, THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS TILTED INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE AXLE, SUBFRAME, ONE OF THE BRAKES, AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,850.

NHTSA ODI #11223181

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2018
Electrical SystemService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RADIO AND DOME LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM GREENSB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RADIO AND DOME LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM GREENSBORO (3710 W WENDOVER AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27407, (336) 790-9850), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11115596

100,000 miles · May 24, 2017
EngineService BrakesUnknown Or Other

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 0 RECALLS ON THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.0. HOWEVER, A SIMPLE YOUTUBE SEARCH WILL BRING UP COMMON ISSUES WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHICH CAUSE EXTREME TIRE WEAR AND EVEN SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH VERY LITTLE CONTROL. THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE BODY ARE HUGE ISSUES AS …

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THERE ARE CURRENTLY 0 RECALLS ON THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER 2.0. HOWEVER, A SIMPLE YOUTUBE SEARCH WILL BRING UP COMMON ISSUES WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHICH CAUSE EXTREME TIRE WEAR AND EVEN SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH VERY LITTLE CONTROL. THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE BODY ARE HUGE ISSUES AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T A YOUTUBE SEARCH THAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION BUT INSTEAD DRIVING ONE AND LOOKING INTO IT. TO MY SURPRISE THERE ARE ZERO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10991328

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2016
Service BrakesSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. AFTER THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER UN-LEVELED LAND, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. AFTER THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER UN-LEVELED LAND, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10906195

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2016
EngineService BrakesSuspension

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2009, RAN GREAT AT FIRST UNTIL I HIT OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES. I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TO SEE A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS 80 DEGREES OUT AND MY CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I THOUGHT IT OVERHEATED SO I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINS AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. TODAY I WAS AT TH…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2009, RAN GREAT AT FIRST UNTIL I HIT OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES. I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TO SEE A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS 80 DEGREES OUT AND MY CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I THOUGHT IT OVERHEATED SO I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINS AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. TODAY I WAS AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, TO FIND OUT WHY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS MAKING A NOISE(LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROLL ARM AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES. WHERE'S THE RECALL DODGE?

NHTSA ODI #10839592

18,000 miles · Feb 5, 2016
Power TrainService Brakes

I WAS TURNING ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY BRAKES MADE THE MOST AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ONE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC MY BRAKES WERE BAD AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND THERE WAS A SENSOR THAT HAD TO BE ORDERED BEFORE I COULD USE THE CAR AFTER IT WAS…

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I WAS TURNING ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY BRAKES MADE THE MOST AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ONE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC MY BRAKES WERE BAD AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND THERE WAS A SENSOR THAT HAD TO BE ORDERED BEFORE I COULD USE THE CAR AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. IT HAD 11,000 MILES!! I DOUBT MY BRAKES WERE EVEN BAD AT THAT POINT I THINK IT WAS JUST A SENSOR AFTER ALL. (AFTER IT COST ME $480.00 PLUS I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 3 DAYS. MY TRANSMISSION KEPT SURGING AT THE STOP LIGHTS FROM THE DAY I GOT IT AT 1,471 MILES. SO IT WAS PROBABLY BAD FROM DAY ONE. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT RIGHT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, AT LEAST IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES AT A COST OF $6,000.

NHTSA ODI #10824514

135,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSteering

FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTING OUT. THIS CRADLE SUPPORTS ALL STEERING FRONT SUSPENSION AND ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODELS AND IS STILL A PROBLEM ON 2008 MODELS. ALTHOUGH 2007 MODELS ARE RECALLED AND REPLACED BUT NOT 2008. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR AS STATED ALL STEERI…

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FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTING OUT. THIS CRADLE SUPPORTS ALL STEERING FRONT SUSPENSION AND ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODELS AND IS STILL A PROBLEM ON 2008 MODELS. ALTHOUGH 2007 MODELS ARE RECALLED AND REPLACED BUT NOT 2008. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR AS STATED ALL STEERING AND SUSPENSION ARE CONNECTED TO THIS CRADLE. IF FAILURE TO CRADLE HAPPENS ALL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE IS INEVITABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10765342

145,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015
Service BrakesSuspensionWheels

OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE, STRUTS, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES ON THE FRONT FOR THE 5TH TIME, BACK BREAKS ARE OUT AND ROTORS AS WELL HAD THEM REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED. BARRINGS ON THE FRONT AND ONE ON THE RIGHT BACK. WENT THROUGH A SET…

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OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE, STRUTS, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES ON THE FRONT FOR THE 5TH TIME, BACK BREAKS ARE OUT AND ROTORS AS WELL HAD THEM REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED. BARRINGS ON THE FRONT AND ONE ON THE RIGHT BACK. WENT THROUGH A SET A TIRES IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. HAS BEEN TO DODGE AND OTHER MECHANICS PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST.

NHTSA ODI #10762967

133,833 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Service BrakesSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BUT FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE BRAKE EMITTED A METAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES THE CORROSION WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE LINES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,833. MA 10/15/2015 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10758841

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.