← New search

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

What owners actually said

232 reports
55,000 miles · Nov 27, 2015
Suspension

TOOK CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD CRADLE , SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL. CHRYSLER DID RECALL 2007 2008 .BUT NOT 2009 . CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. BODY IS NOT RUSTED. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND GET MANY COMPLAINT BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO EXTEND RECALL. EVEN THO…

Read full complaint

TOOK CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD CRADLE , SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL. CHRYSLER DID RECALL 2007 2008 .BUT NOT 2009 . CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. BODY IS NOT RUSTED. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND GET MANY COMPLAINT BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO EXTEND RECALL. EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. ALMOST EVERY COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE IS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10807195

97,420 miles · Nov 8, 2015
StructureSuspension

TOOK MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER IN FOR ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, FAILED BECAUSE OF A CRACKED K MEMBER (SUB FRAME) ON THE LEFT SIDE AND LOOSE LEFT TIE ROD. SHOP DOES NOT DO REPAIRS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP IN VERMONT FOR A SECOND LOOK. HE FOUND THAT THE K MEMBER CORRODED WITH HOLES NEAR THE MOUNTING BOLT ON THE K MEMBER AND CORR…

Read full complaint

TOOK MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER IN FOR ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, FAILED BECAUSE OF A CRACKED K MEMBER (SUB FRAME) ON THE LEFT SIDE AND LOOSE LEFT TIE ROD. SHOP DOES NOT DO REPAIRS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP IN VERMONT FOR A SECOND LOOK. HE FOUND THAT THE K MEMBER CORRODED WITH HOLES NEAR THE MOUNTING BOLT ON THE K MEMBER AND CORROSION ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. HE ORDERED PARTS TO REPLACE THE K MEMBER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. HE ALSO REPLACED THE OUTER TIE ROD WHICH I HAD PURCHASED AFTER THE FAILED INSPECTION. STEERING QUICKER TO LEFT THAN TO THE RIGHT BEFORE TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THE FAILED INSPECTION

NHTSA ODI #10789117

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2015
EnginePower TrainStructure

FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR LOOSING ACCELERATION AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. AT FIRST IT WOULD GO SEVERAL HOURS BUT NOW I CAN'T GO FOR A 30 MINUTE DRIVE AND OVER 70MPH BEFORE IT LOOSES ACCELERATION ON THE HIGHWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND THEN THE RPM'S RACE ALL THE WAY TO THE MAXIMUM, THE TEMP. …

Read full complaint

FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR LOOSING ACCELERATION AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. AT FIRST IT WOULD GO SEVERAL HOURS BUT NOW I CAN'T GO FOR A 30 MINUTE DRIVE AND OVER 70MPH BEFORE IT LOOSES ACCELERATION ON THE HIGHWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND THEN THE RPM'S RACE ALL THE WAY TO THE MAXIMUM, THE TEMP. GAUGE COMES ON AND IT LOOSES POWER. I CAN PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO 'COOL' OFF WHICH IS CRAZY SINCE IT'S NOT OVER HEATED. THIS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM A HALF HOUR TO AN HOUR EACH TIME. WHEN I TRY TO START OUT AGAIN AFTER IT'S SET, I CAN GO ANOTHER MILE BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND I START ALL OVER. I HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE IT OUT ON A DRIVE LIKE THAT TO HAVE IT HAPPEN TO THEM. IT'S A HAZZARD AND I'VE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED A FEW TIMES BY SEMI'S AND OTHER CARS. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. I NOW HAVE A PIECE OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE FRONT END IS VERY LOOSE. THIS IS A DEATH TRAP YET WHEN I CALL THE COMPANY, NOTHING IS DONE. SO GLAD THEY STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS COMPLAINT IT ASKS WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GET ON THE HIGHWAY SO THERE'S NO SPECIFIC DATE, ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10786745

103,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 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 APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #10783494

99,000 miles · Oct 16, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR TRAILING ARM BUSHING WAS STUCK TO THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10782989

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE F…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10782175

69,000 miles · Oct 14, 2015
Engine

DRIVING OVER 2 HOURS ON HIGHWAY (HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 81) (ROUTE 80 ) (NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE)ENGINE STARTS WHINING RPMS RISE OVER 4 & STAY, SPEED DROPS TO 25-30MPH CAN'T GET UP INCLINE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT LIGHT COMES ON, HAD TO PULL OVER MY SON ALMOST GOT KILLED BECAUSE CAR HAD NO POWER HAD TO LET CAR SIT FOR AN HOUR, THIS HAS HA…

Read full complaint

DRIVING OVER 2 HOURS ON HIGHWAY (HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 81) (ROUTE 80 ) (NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE)ENGINE STARTS WHINING RPMS RISE OVER 4 & STAY, SPEED DROPS TO 25-30MPH CAN'T GET UP INCLINE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT LIGHT COMES ON, HAD TO PULL OVER MY SON ALMOST GOT KILLED BECAUSE CAR HAD NO POWER HAD TO LET CAR SIT FOR AN HOUR, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO 2 DEALERSHIPS 1ST DEALERSHIP(ZIMMERMAN DODGE SUNBURY, PA) COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM 2ND DEALERSHIP(SALERNO-DUANE SUMMIT,NJ) REPLACED THE COMPUTER, CAR STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM CAR IS NOW BEING TOWED TO 3RD DEALERSHIP(NICHOLS DODGE BURLINGTON,NC) 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES JULY 2014 , OCTOBER 2014 , APRIL 2015 JULY 2015 , OCTOBER 2015,

NHTSA ODI #10781981

48,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Electrical System

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. WOULDN'T TURN OVER. LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED. BATTERY, STARTER, ALT, FUSES ALL OKAY. REPLACED TIPM. WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER SINCE 2014. WE WERE GIVEN A 'KEY' TO TRY TO START THE CAR FROM OUTSIDE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THIS HAPPENED.…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. WOULDN'T TURN OVER. LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED. BATTERY, STARTER, ALT, FUSES ALL OKAY. REPLACED TIPM. WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER SINCE 2014. WE WERE GIVEN A 'KEY' TO TRY TO START THE CAR FROM OUTSIDE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WORKED SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS. IT'S BEEN TOWED AGAIN TODAY FOR THE SAME REASON(9/9/15). WE'VE OWNED MANY DODGE VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE WE HAVE WITH THE 2009 CALIBER. WE HAD GIVEN THIS CAR TO OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE FOR COLLEGE AND IT HAS LEFT HER STRANDED MANY, MANY TIMES. I'M CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #10762655

90,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

AFTER SUSPECTING SOME FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES I TOOK MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION HE REPORTED THAT, ALONG WITH CONTROL ARMS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, THE SUBFRAME WAS UNUSUALLY RUSTED AND CORRODED TO A POINT THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I INVESTIGATED THE MATTER AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER ISSUED AN E…

Read full complaint

AFTER SUSPECTING SOME FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES I TOOK MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION HE REPORTED THAT, ALONG WITH CONTROL ARMS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, THE SUBFRAME WAS UNUSUALLY RUSTED AND CORRODED TO A POINT THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I INVESTIGATED THE MATTER AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER ISSUED AN EXTENSION ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY TO COVER THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2007 CALIBERS BUT WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY INFORMED MY THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 CALIBER. THE CAR IS AT THE GARAGE AND WILL BE GETTING FIXED TOMORROW. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND WILL PURSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER.

NHTSA ODI #10761129

48,500 miles · Aug 23, 2015
Unknown Or Other

ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED OUT WHEN THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST AT ALL RESULTING IN APPROX. $800 TO $1000 IN REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #10758678

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.