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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

What owners actually said

232 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

WHEN I STARTED MY 09 DODGE CALIBER UP ONE MORNING . I BACK UP ,THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT HESITATED AND JUMP OR JOLT.IT SCARED ME .THE ENGINE CAME ON,SO I WENT TO A AUTO PARTS STORE DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE TO GET A READING OR CODES READ ON MY CALIBER, IT GAVE ME A CODE ABOUT THE POWER TRAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11378071

122,637 miles · Nov 10, 2020
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. THEN WHEN I STARTED IT, IT WOULD ONLY GO 5 MILES A HOUR. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A WRECK WITH MY 3 YR. OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME. I HAD A CODE READER PUT ON IT AND IT READS U0402-IMPLAUSIBLE DATA RECEIVED FROM TCM.

NHTSA ODI #11373981

127,000 miles · Oct 13, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DRIVING BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DRIVING BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND JERKED WITHOUT MOVING BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRED AND UNDRIVABLE AT THE RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #11364112

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2020
Seat BeltsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, AN UNKNOWN SUBARU CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, AN UNKNOWN SUBARU CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED BEMIDJI CHRYSLER CENTER (755 PAUL BUNYAN DR NW, BEMIDJI, MN 56601 (877) 289-6012) WHO REFERRED CONTACT TO MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11362803

64,005 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE INCLUDING THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE INCLUDING THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE CONTACT TO THE VEHICLE HOME AND EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND MORE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. MINOT AUTOMOTIVE CENTER (3615 S BROADWAY, MINOT, ND 58701, (701) 401-1019) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,005. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI #11362207

201,000 miles · Aug 27, 2020
Structure

SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , ALMOST WRECKED

NHTSA ODI #11351497

200,000 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WILL BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING. I CHECK ALL THE FUSES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS GOOD BUT THEY STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM BACK WORKING IS TO REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY POST FROM THE BATTERY FOR 10 MINUTES. I DONE RESEARCH AND THEY WERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIPM …

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EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WILL BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING. I CHECK ALL THE FUSES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS GOOD BUT THEY STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM BACK WORKING IS TO REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY POST FROM THE BATTERY FOR 10 MINUTES. I DONE RESEARCH AND THEY WERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIPM MODULE. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN BREVARD, NC PULLING INTO INGLES.

NHTSA ODI #11342952

125,000 miles · Jan 26, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR WILL STALL AND NOT TAKE OFF AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A LIGHT FOR TOO LONG . WILL SHUT OFF AS WELL ALONG WITH THROTTLING AS IF IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF

NHTSA ODI #11302111

135,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019
EnginePower TrainSuspension

FRONT SUBFRAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND BROKEN

NHTSA ODI #11280963

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CARS TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INDACATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS OVER 250 DEGREES AND IT SHUTS DOWN TO WHERE I CANT DRIVE IT IT JUMPS AND IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE I WAS GOING TO THE DR OFFICE OUT OF THE TOWN FROM WHERE I LIVE AND IT PUT ME OUT PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSICT MACHINE AT IT SAID TMC MODUEL I HAVENT HAD IT …

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THE CARS TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INDACATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS OVER 250 DEGREES AND IT SHUTS DOWN TO WHERE I CANT DRIVE IT IT JUMPS AND IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE I WAS GOING TO THE DR OFFICE OUT OF THE TOWN FROM WHERE I LIVE AND IT PUT ME OUT PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSICT MACHINE AT IT SAID TMC MODUEL I HAVENT HAD IT VERY LONG AND ALL AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE IT TO ME

NHTSA ODI #11270545

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.