IllustrationSUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH. DIAGNOSED THIS PAST SATURDAY. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON A VEHICLE. PICTURE ATTACHED.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caliber 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
240–25K
4325–50K
5850–75K
5575–100K
83100–150K
31150K+
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
Suspension complaints
113 reportsTHE PROBLEM DEAL WITH THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. THIS PART IS TOTAL JUNK. IT IS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OUR FINDING IT NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE AND FINDING THE 2007 CALIBER'S WERE HANDLED UNDER A "RECALL" BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. A…
Read full complaint
THE PROBLEM DEAL WITH THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. THIS PART IS TOTAL JUNK. IT IS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OUR FINDING IT NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE AND FINDING THE 2007 CALIBER'S WERE HANDLED UNDER A "RECALL" BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. AFTER JUST LEAVING HOME THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PULLED BADLY TO THE RIGHT, WHILE MAKING SCREAKING NOISES. THE CAR WAS LIMPED BACK INTO THE DRIVE AND THE PROBLEM FOUND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY POORLY MADE PART, PROBABLY WITH INFERIOR STEEL. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO (2) PICTURES OF THE OLD SUBFRAME. THE CAR IS REGISTERED TO MY DAUGHTER [XXX] , I AM HER FATHER [XXX]. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AND THEY INFORMED ME TO CONTACT DODGE/CHRYSLER WHICH I DID. THEY INFORMED THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY DID TAKE MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE WITH ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS TYPE OF CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION. [XXX]OR BY CELL PHONE [XXX]. I WOULD APPRECIATED ANY TYPE OF REPLY. SINCERELY [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I TOOK CAR IN TO HAVE BALL JOINTS REPLACEDPLUS THE STEERING AND STRUTS LOOKED AT. MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH. NO OTHER WORK CAN BE DONE ON THE CAR WITH THIS HUGE ISSUE.
VEHICLE ARRIVED AT OUR SHOP FOR A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AND ON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD ROTTED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THE CUSTOMER AND FOUND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE NO EXPIRATION DATE. PHOTO IS AVAILABLE IF THER…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE ARRIVED AT OUR SHOP FOR A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AND ON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD ROTTED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THE CUSTOMER AND FOUND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE NO EXPIRATION DATE. PHOTO IS AVAILABLE IF THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION. *TR
TOOK OUR DODGE CALIBER 2008 (MANUFACTURER DATE: 11/2007) TO A MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS THOUGHT TO BE STRUTS AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CONTINUE ANY SAFE DRIVING. THIS WAS A 2007 RECALL BUT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN ANY TITLED 2008 CARS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2007. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS …
Read full complaint
TOOK OUR DODGE CALIBER 2008 (MANUFACTURER DATE: 11/2007) TO A MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS THOUGHT TO BE STRUTS AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CONTINUE ANY SAFE DRIVING. THIS WAS A 2007 RECALL BUT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN ANY TITLED 2008 CARS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2007. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND SEEMS TO BE REPORTED MORE OFTEN NOW AT THE 10 YEAR MARK. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL PROBLEM ON MOST VEHICLES AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RECALLED, BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT COST ON THIS IS IN THE THOUSANDS AND IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD.
RUSTED SUB-FRAME , PAPER THIN MANY COMPLAINTS LISTED ALL OVER THE WEB, DRIVING IN A LOT HIT A SPEED BUMP FRONT RIGHT TIRE CAME ALMOST ALL THE WAY OFF THE CAR. CALLED CHRYSLER THEY DONT CARE IF MY CAR COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY CHILD, THEY HAVE NO RECALL SO ITS MY ISSUE NOT THEIRS.
RUSTED SUB-FRAME & OIL PAN
A FRAME RUSTED OUT AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER THE CAR HAS NO RUST AND NOW IT'S A SAGGY ISSUE
PREMATURE FAILURE (38560 MILES) OF LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM FOUND DURING ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION. COST $349 TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND $80 FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT.
SUB FRAM RUSTED OUT IN LESS THEN 9 YEARS AND 80K MILES. FOUND OUT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
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.