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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

360 reports
3 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I CAN DRIVE THE CAR BUT CAN'T SPEED UP OR ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH. IF I'M AT A STOP LIGHT TOO LONG MY CAR WILL STALL WHILE ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAN'T TURN OVER ENGINE RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10808866

126,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Electrical System

UPDATE OF PREVIOUS REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE CONTROLS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS FRONT AND BACK, WASHER FRONT AND BACK, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER ALL COMPLETELY STOP WORKING. THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INDEPENDENT OF THE CONTROL SWITCH BY STARTING OR STOPPING THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED ON STARTIN…

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UPDATE OF PREVIOUS REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE CONTROLS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS FRONT AND BACK, WASHER FRONT AND BACK, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER ALL COMPLETELY STOP WORKING. THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INDEPENDENT OF THE CONTROL SWITCH BY STARTING OR STOPPING THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED ON STARTING THE CAR TO GO TO WORK FROM BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE. TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS BY CHANGING THE TIPM. IT HAD NO EFFECT. TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND AND CORRECTED 3 DIFFERENT BREAKS IN 2 CIRCUITS. 2 BREAKS IN THE WIRING IN THE INNER FENDER WELL AND 1 INSIDE THE CAR UNDER THE CARPET NEAR THE DRIVERS DOOR. THANKS TO AL SERRA AUTO PLAZA ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED: CRUISE CONTROL WORKS, KEY FOBS WORK, WIPERS FRONT AND BACK WORK, WASHERS FRONT AND BACK WORK, DIMMER WORKS, HEADLIGHTS WORKS WITH THE SWITCH, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS WORK.AND TURN SIGNALS WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10808286

100,000 miles · Nov 20, 2015
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD NO POWER! THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND JUMPING FORWARD! THEN AS I WAS GOING UP HILL IT SLOWED AND WAS JERKING AGAIN! WHEN I WOULD STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT HAD VERY LITTLE POWER TO EXHILARATE AND THEN IT WOULD JERK ALOT UNTIL IT GOT ENOUGH POWER TO GET GOING A…

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I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD NO POWER! THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND JUMPING FORWARD! THEN AS I WAS GOING UP HILL IT SLOWED AND WAS JERKING AGAIN! WHEN I WOULD STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT HAD VERY LITTLE POWER TO EXHILARATE AND THEN IT WOULD JERK ALOT UNTIL IT GOT ENOUGH POWER TO GET GOING AGAIN! I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT ANY FURTHER SINCE I LIVE OUT OF TOWN, I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY! SO I LEFT THE CAR IN MY SISTERS DRIVE WAY AND DROVE HER CAR HOME! I NEEDED A CAR SO TO TAKE THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THE NEXT MORNING. I CALLED AMCO AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN! IT TOOK ME 30 MINS TO DRIVE FIVE MILES! THEY TOLD ME AFTER CHECKING IT OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND THE CAR IS ONLY SEVEN YRS OLD WITH JUST A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT! THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD TO BE SOLD! THEY ARE DANGEROUS! EVERYONE OF THEM SHOULD BE RECALLED AND SENT TO THE SCRAP YARD! THEY ARE LEMON'S AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE,CHRYSLER OR GM PRODUCT AGAIN! I STILL OWE 5000.OO ON THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE AND I DON'T HAVE THE 3500.00 TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION! SO THE CAR SETS AS I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE! THIS IS NOT RIGHT! THE DEALER WAS TO PUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR AND HE DID NOT! NOW WITH TWO KIDS I AM SCREWED AS WITH NOT HAVING A VEHICLE TO DRIVE! THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND WE THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING WE CAN NOT DRIVE!

NHTSA ODI #10795196

104,216 miles · Nov 16, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,216.

NHTSA ODI #10790735

100,000 miles · Oct 28, 2015
SteeringStructure

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 EX…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10786800

72,000 miles · Oct 28, 2015
Suspension

FRONT SUB FRAME (CROSSBAR) HAS RUSTED AND CRACKED MAKING THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UPON DRIVING HOME THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND MAKING LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE STEERING

NHTSA ODI #10786702

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10786373

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2015
Structure

FRONT SUBFRAME ROTTED, HAS HOLES BIG ENOUGH TO STICK YOUR HAND IN. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CHRYSLER RECALLED THE 2007 MODEL, NOT THE 2008.

NHTSA ODI #10783692

130,000 miles · Oct 16, 2015
Suspension

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS YEARLY INSPECTION. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS ROTTED AWAY/RUSTED AND NEED REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $800. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR IN THE YEARS 2007 & 2008 AS WELL AS THE JEEP COMPASS, AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH MY YEAR/MILEAGE. AFTER DO…

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I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS YEARLY INSPECTION. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS ROTTED AWAY/RUSTED AND NEED REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $800. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR IN THE YEARS 2007 & 2008 AS WELL AS THE JEEP COMPASS, AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH MY YEAR/MILEAGE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT DODGE HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE 2007 CALIBERS AND IS PAYING FOR THEIR REPAIRS, BUT WILL NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION/WARRANTY TO THE OWNERS OF THE 2008 MODELS. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI #10782982

102,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 11/19/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10778517

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.