IllustrationINTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER, ALTERNATOR, AND LIGHT ON INSIDE ON AND OFF OR STAY ON TO LONG. TIME PERIOD 2010-2016
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
28 reportsFRONT AND REAR CRADLE IS VERY RUSTY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP,$1541.70
THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE ATTACHED LOWER CONTROL ARMS W/ BALL JOINTS. THIS COST $1,800. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 MODEL. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS SO CORRODED THAT IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT IT HADN'T BROKEN. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 57,625 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.
HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPLACEMENT OF A REAR WHEEL BEARING AND THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME IS NEARLY IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER SUBFRAME COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS, BUT NOT FOR THE 2008. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 135,000 MILES AT TIME OF INSPECTION.
FRONT K-FRAME CROSS MEMBER RUSTED OUT. EXTENDED WARRANTY AVAILABLE AND PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH 2007 MODELS. HOWEVER, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT RESOLVED BY 2008. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS PART FAILS. DODGE WILL NOT WARRANTY. PIX ATTACHED
PULLED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY NOTICED TO GO STRAIGHT STEERING WHEEL WAS AT 10 O'CLOCK POSITION AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION. HAD IT TOWED IN TO BE CHECKED. SUB FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS DETACHED.
THE SUB FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS REPLACING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 MODEL BUT NONE FOR THE 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY 2008 AND, MOST LIKELY, WAS MADE WITH FAULTY 2007 PARTS. CALLS MADE TO CHRYSLER-DODGE RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THIS IS MY PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPLACE…
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THE SUB FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS REPLACING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 MODEL BUT NONE FOR THE 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY 2008 AND, MOST LIKELY, WAS MADE WITH FAULTY 2007 PARTS. CALLS MADE TO CHRYSLER-DODGE RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THIS IS MY PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT SUB FRAME WHICH WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1000. IN ADDITION, A YEAR AGO, THE FRONT BUMPER HAD TO BE REPAINTED DUE TO SUB PAR PAINT JOB BY THE MANUFACTURER.
WHEN TURNING OVER THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. TURNING BACK THE KEY AND TRYING AGAIN WOULD TYPICALLY RESULT IN THE CAR STARTING. AFTER 2-3 MONTHS OF THIS INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR, THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO ACT AS IF THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AFTER IT WAS REMOVED (IT WOULD DING WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED AND N…
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WHEN TURNING OVER THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. TURNING BACK THE KEY AND TRYING AGAIN WOULD TYPICALLY RESULT IN THE CAR STARTING. AFTER 2-3 MONTHS OF THIS INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR, THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO ACT AS IF THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AFTER IT WAS REMOVED (IT WOULD DING WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED AND NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK MY DOORS).
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.