2008 Dodge Caliber

I OWN A 2008 DODGE CALIBER THAT IS BUILT ON THE SAME CHASSIS THAT THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER WAS BUILT ON AND AS A RESULT OF RUST AND CORROSION THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER FAILED AND DODGE/CHRYSLER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SAFETY BULLETIN TO THE OWNERS OF THE 2007 VEHICLES TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO A DODGE/CHRYSLER REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE THE CROSS MEMBER REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE/CHRYSLER THREE TIMES INCLUDING PICTURES OF MY RUSTED AND CORRODED CROSS MEMBER AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WORK AT A VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL WHERE THEY TEACH AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRING AS CLASS, AND I OFFERED TO DODGE/CHRYSLER THAT I WOULD ABSORB THE LABOR COST IF THEY WOULD SEND ME THE CROSS MEMBER AT NO COST AND THE REFUSED TO DO THAT ALSO. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR DECISION AS I AM CONCERNED WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT THE TIME THE CROSS MEMBER FAILS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO INCLUDE THE PHOTOS HERE BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO ATTACH THEM.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A HOLE HAD DEVELOPED IN THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE K MEMBER FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.