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2009 Dodge Caliber

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Dodge Caliber do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 165.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

187 reports with mileage · 45 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

64 reports
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7,166 miles · Nov 26, 2013
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

2009 DODGE CALIBER PRESENTED PROBLEMS AT 7,166 MILES, BRAND NEW. I WAS DRIVING WHILE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STALLED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL, THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE AND THE EVAPORATIVE DETECTOR SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TW…

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2009 DODGE CALIBER PRESENTED PROBLEMS AT 7,166 MILES, BRAND NEW. I WAS DRIVING WHILE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STALLED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL, THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE AND THE EVAPORATIVE DETECTOR SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THEN THE BATTERY PRESENTED CORROSION, THE DEALER MADE ME PAY FOR THE SERVICES, THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY. AFTER THAT THE CAR KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW BATTERY THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN, IT WAS TOOK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE PCM WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE PART CAME IN AND IT DIDN'T WORK, MY CAR WAS ON THE DEALER FOR OVER 2 MONTHS BECAUSE DE PCM SENT BY CHRYSLER WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, SO I NEEDED TO KEEP WAITING. ANOTHER PCM WAS ORDERED AND THEY MADE ME PAY OVER 2,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS; AND AFTER TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE DEALER, THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PCM, TIPM AND ALL THE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS AND DETECTOR EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM AND THE CHRYSLER DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO HONOR ANY WARRANTIES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX ANY PROBLEMS. THIS 2009 DODGE CALIBER WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER. IT IS TO RISKY TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IT IS ALSO A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS DANGEROUS, AND THE CHRYSLER AND ITS DEALERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND EXTEND THE RECALL AND RESPOND TO MANY CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR THINKING IT WAS A RELIABLE CAR, WITH A GOOD WARRANTY THAT NOW THEY REFUSE TO HONOR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553805

78,000 miles · Nov 1, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 08V528000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10550482

65,000 miles · Oct 21, 2013
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO ABOVE 30 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING, AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC WHO INDICATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND TO BRING TO A DEALER. THERE IS NO DODGE DEALER NEAR ME THAT WOULD TOW THE VEHICLE AND THE TOW WOULD HA…

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO ABOVE 30 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING, AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC WHO INDICATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND TO BRING TO A DEALER. THERE IS NO DODGE DEALER NEAR ME THAT WOULD TOW THE VEHICLE AND THE TOW WOULD HAVE BEEN AT MY EXPENSE, SO I TOWED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE TO THE DEALER WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY DIAGNOSED A MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, HOWEVER THEY ARE BEING DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING AT A DODGE DEALER. THERE IS NO REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION IT CAN ONLY BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $4000! THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548696

67,000 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATED PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATED PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V528000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10542013

60,000 miles · Jul 24, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V528000(POWER TRAIN), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V528000(POWER TRAIN), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531573

90,000 miles · Jul 15, 2013
Power Train

DRIVING THE CAR WITH A/C ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ILLUMINATION LIGHT TURNED ON IN DASH PANEL. THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 50MPH, BY THE TIME I PULLED OFF AT NEXT EXIT THE CAR WOULD GO NOT FASTER THAN 20MPH, AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM E…

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DRIVING THE CAR WITH A/C ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ILLUMINATION LIGHT TURNED ON IN DASH PANEL. THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 50MPH, BY THE TIME I PULLED OFF AT NEXT EXIT THE CAR WOULD GO NOT FASTER THAN 20MPH, AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. CAR SAT FOR 30 MINUTES COOLING OFF. TURNED ON CAR AND LIGHT WAS OFF. STARTED DOWN HIGHWAY AGAIN 30 MINUTES LATER LIGHT CAME BACK ON PULLED OVER AGAIN, TURNED CAR OFF, WAITED 30 MINUTES. TURNED ON CAR AND LIGHT WAS OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2009, APRIL 2013, AND AGAIN JULY 1ST, 2013. $1,600 LATER OF TRYING TO FIX DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE DODGE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH IT AND 3 TRIPS TO DODGE DEALERSHIP, "THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". I AM A WOMAN AND CAN NOT BE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY SO THE CAR I HAVEN'T PAID DODGE OFF FOR YET WILL COOL DOWN TO DRIVE. I FOUND 219 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON EDMONDS.COM, AND CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. EVERYONE KNOWS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. IM SURE DODGE WOULD NOT LET THEIR DAUGHTERS DRIVE THIS CAR OUT OF TOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. BETTER YET, LETS NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED IN A CRASH BECAUSE THEIR CAR DECELERATES ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525044

98,000 miles · May 8, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MADE A STOP AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE WARNING LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MADE A STOP AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE WARNING LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,820.

NHTSA ODI #10511138

55,000 miles · Oct 16, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH AND WOULD GO UP TO 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH AND WOULD GO UP TO 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,143. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE PRESENTED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE AUTHORIZED UPGRADED RIMS AND TIRES. ON LONG TRIPS. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE SAME RESULT AS IN DEPLETED PERFORMANCE. UPDATED 12/10/12

NHTSA ODI #10480683

50,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 75 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED A VALVE THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO AS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 75 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED A VALVE THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FAILING TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. AT TIMES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH A SAFE SPEED WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE DECELERATION HAS NOW STARTED AT A MUCH LOWER SPEED. WHEN IT OCCURRED, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME SHE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND SIT FOR 15-45 MINUTES TO WAIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COOL OFF. THE TRANSMISSION VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 08/08/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER FOUND THE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS WERE CAUSING THE NOISE. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. UPDATED 08/09/12

NHTSA ODI #10467955

83,000 miles · Jul 11, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS PARKED AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE, BUT WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS PARKED AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10465223

Official recalls

1

08V528000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Oct 9, 2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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.