2008 Dodge Caliber

I HAD A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FIRST NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL AT 55 MPH. I THEN STARTED HEARING CLUNKING SOUNDS WHILE STEERING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. I TOOK IT IN THINKING THAT IT'S A BALL JOINT, BECAUSE I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT AROUND 75,000 MILE, WHILE THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. THE MOTOR CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED PLUS 2 LOWER CONTROL ARMS. IT COST ME 1458. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A RECALL OF THE 2007 MODEL. MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 2007, AND THE CUTOFF DATE WAS JULY 2007. I HAVE PHOTOS AND INVOICES ATTACHED.

DRIVING AND STEERING GOT LOSE.PULLED INTO WORK AND WAS TURNING THE WHEEL HEARD CRUNCHING NOSE.GOT OUT AT LOOKED STEERING GEAR BOX WAS MOVING ON FRAME AND ALL KINDS OF RUST WAS FALLING OFF.I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHRYSLER DEALER SHIP AND WAITING ON TO SEE IF THE SUBFRAME BEING RUSTED OUT IS COVERED IN ANY WAY.THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 24 MILES A DAY AND KEEPED IN A GARAGE AND WASHED.THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN 2007 MODEL DODGE CALIBERS.

I DID SOME WORK ON THE FRONT END, I REPLACED TIEROD END AND BALL JOINTS,ALSO PUT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. I WAS SCHEDULING AN ALIGNMENT WHEN THE FRONT WOULD MAKE A POP SOUND AND A SLIGHT SNAP WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT. I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT THE MATTER WAS AND THE SUB FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED...I WASH THE CAR 2 A MONTH ESPECIALLY IN WINTER. THE SUB FRAME ALSO CONNECTS THE SWAYBAR, STRUTS AND IT CANT GET ALIGNED DUE TO THE BROKEN FRAME.. ALL TOO PREMATURELY.

TOOK MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT MY FRONT CROSS MEMBER NEEDS REPLACED DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL RUST THROUGH AND THAT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THIS PART BROKE, ALL STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE LOST. WAS TOLD THE 2007 MODEL YEAR CALIBERS HAD THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT THAT NO 2008S WERE AFFECTED. WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $1094 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THIS PART. THIS PART IS A STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND SHOULD NEVER RUST THROUGH IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NO OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RUST ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEANED REGULARLY. CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY APPLIED ONLY TO 2007 CALIBERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER ASSEMBLY EXHIBITED RUST CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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.