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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
87,607 miles · Dec 3, 2014
EngineStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND HOLES HAD DEVELOPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,607.

NHTSA ODI #10662003

26,700 miles · Nov 8, 2014
SteeringSuspension

WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DID AN INSPECTION AND SAID THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE SHOWING WEAR AND PLAY. WHEN HE LET THE CAR DOWN AND SAW THE MILEAGE WAS 26,700 HE SAID THAT THE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD UNLESS I WAS OFF ROADING THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN 4 MILES ROUND TRIP ON…

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WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DID AN INSPECTION AND SAID THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE SHOWING WEAR AND PLAY. WHEN HE LET THE CAR DOWN AND SAW THE MILEAGE WAS 26,700 HE SAID THAT THE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD UNLESS I WAS OFF ROADING THE CAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN 4 MILES ROUND TRIP ON PAVED MAINTAINED ROADS DAILY AT 30 MPH. AND ON OCCASIONALLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS OF 55MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR KNOWN COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2007 WHEN THEY CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653587

118,000 miles · Nov 1, 2014
SteeringSuspension

MY VEHICLE WON'T STAY ALIGNED. AND NOW IT HAS A BAD JERK IN IT. YOU CAN BE GOING 10 MPH OR 50 MPH AND IT STILL JERKS YOU TO THE LEFT. YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON IT SO MANY TIMES. WE HAVE BOUGHT TIERODS FOR IT AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE HELPING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651849

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEM LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT IT.. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK HE SAID HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES PAID $75. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THE BATTERY L…

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I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEM LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT IT.. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK HE SAID HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES PAID $75. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS ON THE ENTIRE DAY THEN WENT OFF. NOW WHEN IT CAME BACK ON AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE LIGHT CAME ON WITH IT. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 2 MILES AS I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS THE LIGHT I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURN BACK ON. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ONE AT THE LIGHT BEHIND ME WHEN I DID THAT. BUT I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THAT MANY OTHER HAS HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS DATING BACK 2007. MY CAR IS A 2008 WHICH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FINE TILL NOW. I HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR GO OUT AND REPLACED FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY BEING REPLACED THAT SAME WEEK. I'M AFRAID TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CAR NOW. IT'S KIND OF SCARY TO BE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE THE CAR JUST STOP ON YOU. AND HAVE SOMEONE BEHIND YOU NOT PREPARED TO BE STOPPING SO QUICKLY. I PICK MY GRAND BABY UP FROM SCHOOL AND I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE SHE IS IN THE CAR. I WANT TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. I HAVEN'T PUT THE MILEAGE DOWN BECAUSE IM AT WORK PUTTING IN THIS REPORT AND ITS DARK. BUT THE MILEAGE IS WELL OVER 150,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649574

39,000 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

IT W APPROXIMATELY 9:20 AM ON MAY 12, 2014 WHEN I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM MY SONS HOME IN ROCHESTER, NY TO LIVONIA, MI. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LEFT DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL IT THE GRAVEL IN THE FAR LEFT LANE NEAREST TO THE GUARD RAIL. I TURNED MY WHEEL AND WHEN I DID THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN HIT THE GU…

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IT W APPROXIMATELY 9:20 AM ON MAY 12, 2014 WHEN I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM MY SONS HOME IN ROCHESTER, NY TO LIVONIA, MI. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LEFT DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL IT THE GRAVEL IN THE FAR LEFT LANE NEAREST TO THE GUARD RAIL. I TURNED MY WHEEL AND WHEN I DID THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN HIT THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AND SPUN AGAIN AND I WENT HEAD ON INTO A DITCH AND TOTALED MY WHOLE FRONT END AND MY INJURIES WERE DEVASTATING. MY ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOT IMPLODE. MY FAMILY IN NY TOOK ALL PICTURES FROM WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. NOT ONE THING WAS BROKEN IN MY INTERIOR NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND EVEN THE STATE POLICE AND WITNESSES AND EMS STATED TO MY FAMILY THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I FRACTURED MY BACK AND HAVE LOST L2 & L3 IN MY SPINE WITH A LUMBER FUSION FROM L5 TO L12. THE SPINAL SURGEON WHO SAYS I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THIS SEVERE OF A BACK INJURY AND HEAD INJURY, OH YES MY HEAD INJURY. I HIT MY HEAD SO SEVERE I WAS IN THE PYSCH WARD FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD DO MY BACK SURGERY.MY TIME IN BUFFALO WAS SO AWFUL. I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE I THOUGHT I WAS KIDNAPPED BY [XXX] AND THE SIBERAN LIBERATION ARMY AND I WAS BEING HELD CAPTIVE. I WAS GIVEN A CT SCAN AND ONE MONTH AGO AS MY MEMORY AND SPEECH HAS BEGAN TO GET WORSE ALONG WITH MY PERMANENT WALKING AND DEFECTIVE SPINE. I AM ENCOURAGED BY MY SPINE DOCTOR AND MEDICAL DOCTOR TO SEEK ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM OF THE AIR BAGS NOT IMPLODING. THEY ALL FROM BUFFALO TO HERE IN MI HAVE SAID THE AIR BAGS WERE THE REASON I HAVE THESE INJURIES. I AM ALIVE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND MY SEAT BELT! PLEASE FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SMALL VEHICLE CHECK OUT THE AIR BAGS AND LET US KNOW WHAT IS THE REASON THEY DIDN'T IMPLODE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE INSIDE AND OUT AND WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR HELP. GOD BLESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649000

71,000 miles · Oct 19, 2014
Power Train

MY 2008 CALIBER HAD A REAL BAD TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, WHEN I WAS READING ONLINE WHAT IT COULD BE I FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTER PULLEY ON THE ALTERNATOR WAS THE CULPRIT, SO I REPLACED IT ONLY TO STILL HEAR WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR MAKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE RUBBING METAL TOGETHER FROM THE TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO A LO…

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MY 2008 CALIBER HAD A REAL BAD TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, WHEN I WAS READING ONLINE WHAT IT COULD BE I FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTER PULLEY ON THE ALTERNATOR WAS THE CULPRIT, SO I REPLACED IT ONLY TO STILL HEAR WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR MAKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE RUBBING METAL TOGETHER FROM THE TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WATCHED THEM INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION, THE MECHANICS TOLD ME IT IS THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS UP, THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T HELP AS USUAL. BESIDES THE PULLEY AND THE TRANSMISSION THE BODY HAS CORROSION UNDER THE PASSENGER DOOR AS WELL AS IN THE HATCH AREA. I STILL HAVE 4 MORE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION OR BODY FAILURES WHEN THE CAR IS NOT EXPOSED TO HARSH CONDITIONS AND HAS 70,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648678

81,989 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NON-CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,989.

NHTSA ODI #10641630

68,436 miles · Oct 4, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS GOING HOME ONE EVENING WHEN I SWERVED TO MISS A DEER AND I WENT OFF A LITTLE DITCH AND HIT A TREE. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD SHATTERED MY SHOULDER, BROKE MY HIP, ANKLE, AND 7 OF MY RIBS. I WAS BED BOUND AND WHEEL CHAIR BOUND FOR 3 MONTHS AND COULD NOT WALK AT ALL. IT WAS VERY DEVASTAT…

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I WAS GOING HOME ONE EVENING WHEN I SWERVED TO MISS A DEER AND I WENT OFF A LITTLE DITCH AND HIT A TREE. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD SHATTERED MY SHOULDER, BROKE MY HIP, ANKLE, AND 7 OF MY RIBS. I WAS BED BOUND AND WHEEL CHAIR BOUND FOR 3 MONTHS AND COULD NOT WALK AT ALL. IT WAS VERY DEVASTATING. I WAS IN VERY GOOD HEALTH BUT NOT NOW. I DID HAVE TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN BUT I DID IT. I DO HAVE TO LIVE WITH SOME LIMITATIONS NOW. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641384

109,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING UNRELATED REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE SUB FRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10639774

44,038 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,038.

NHTSA ODI #10638920

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.