2008 Dodge Caliber
Problem Areas
Complaints Over Time
Recent Complaints
MY HUSBAND AND COUSIN WERE IN THIS CAR SOME HOW LOST CONTROL ON A CLEAR DRY DAY AND ROLLED. THEY SAY THE BRAKES WERE NEVER APPLIED BUT I WONDER WHY NOT, MAYBE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER, ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. SMOKE STARTED COMING IN THE VENTS INTO THE VEHICLE WENT TO STOP, BRAKES GRABBED FOR A SECOND THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY, EVEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TO PARK DID NOTHING. STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY HITTING GUARD RAIL CALLED POLICE, WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS IN FLAMES. *TR
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
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
ON 4/10/2013, I WAS BROADSIDED BY A PICK-UP TRUCK AT 18TH & PIKE STREETS. THE GLASS EXPLODED, MY CAR THEN WENT INTO A BACKWARD SPIN. I SPUN ABOUT THREE TIMES AND THEN COMING OUT OF THE SPIN CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A LARGE SUV THAT WAS DOUBLED PARKED. MY CAR BOUNCED OFF THE SUV, THE ENGINE THEN SHUT DOWN AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. ONE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS THAT NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS, PASSENGER AND A DRIVER AIRBAG. I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT HAVING THIS SAFETY FEATURE BUT HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY DID NOT WORK. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT PARAPLEGIC, PARALYZED OR DEAD! I FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE OTHER DODGE OWNERS ARE DRIVING AROUND AND MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I DID. I WOULD HOPE NOBODY HAS TO DIE, BECOME PARAPLEGIC OR PARALYZED FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT FAULTY AIRBAGS. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT TO REAR COLLISION WHERE SHE REAR ENDED A STATIONARY VEHICLE SQUARE ON AT 40MPH. NONE OF HER AIRBAGS IN ANY PART OF THE CAR DEPLOYED AT 40MPH. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM. CAR WAS NEVER TAMPERED WITH, NOR HAD IT EVER HAD A DEPLOYMENT OR ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER RECEIVED DEEP TISSUE TRAUMA IN HER CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 06/06/2014 *JS *TR
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS. DRIVER LOST CONTROL ON BLACK ICE. HIT HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THEN ON THE PAX FRONT SIDE, THEN ON DRIVER FRONT SIDE. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT COSTING APPROX $6000.00 IN DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGHT LIGHTS ON DASH WERE ACTIVATED AS DEPLOYED. WITH SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER WAS THROWN FORWARD HITTING STEERING WHEEL AND KNEES TO LOWER DASHBOARD. SEVER CONCUSSION AS RESULT, BRUISING AND SORENESS. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 FROM ENTERPRISE/NATIONAL CAR RENTAL WITH 31K MILES ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE KNEE AND ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
SITTING ON I-10 STOPPED WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER REAR ENDED ME. HIS SPEED WAS 40 MILES PER AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME FROM GETTING MY FACE CUT AND PREVENTED MY INJURY. I WISH THE BAGS WOULD HAVE WORKED. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE DODGE DEALER A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THE DRIVER FRONT BAG BURNING ME WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THEN THE BLUNT FORCE TO MY FACE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER SXT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURES TO HER LEGS, NECK, AND INTESTINES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RESPONDED IN WRITING THAT THE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,011. UPDATED 10/27/09.*LJ UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE THREE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE COLLISION CENTER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,400.
WAS TRAVELING 30 TO 35 MPH WEST ON HIGHWAY APPROACHING INTERSECTION WITH GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER 4 DOOR SEDAN TRAVELING EAST MADE LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS SEEN, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND HIT BOTH DOORS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 2 FRONT AIRBAGS AND A KNEE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER THIS PAST WEEKEND. DURING THE ACCIDENT WE WERE TRAVELING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH IN FOG AND WERE UNAWARE THAT THE ROAD WE WERE ON ENDED IN THE SHAPE OF A "T". WE THEN FLEW IN THE AIR LANDED AND CRASHED THE WHOLE FRONT PART OF MY CAR. THE ANGLE AT WHICH WE LANDED WAS WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR POINTED DOWN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIS INJURIES INCLUDE 3 CHIPPED MOLARS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS MOUTH AND A PIECE OF FLESH MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS MOUTH. HIS LEFT JAW IS ALSO SWOLLEN AND HE CAN HARDLY OPEN HIS MOUTH TO EAT. MY INJURIES INCLUDE A SWOLLEN LEFT KNEE, BOTH KNEES ARE SKINNED UP. MY LEFT SHOULDER AS AN IMPRINT OF MY LACE SHIRT ON IT AND IS SORE TO THE TOUCH, BOTH MY ARMS ARE IN PAIN AND THE LEFT IS SCRAPPED. I CAN'T LOOK TO EITHER SIDE WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE MY WHOLE BODY AND I CAN'T LOOK UP WITH MY NECK. MY CHEST, RIBS AND BREAST BONE ARE ALSO SORE, SORE ENOUGH IN FACT THAT I HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM THE NIGHT AFTER BECAUSE I HAD THROWN UP THAT MORNING AND IT WAS HURTING TO BREATHE AND FROM THE STRESS I EITHER HAD A SEIZURE OR ANXIETY ATTACK. *TR
SUB FRAM RUSTED OUT IN LESS THEN 9 YEARS AND 80K MILES. FOUND OUT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
MY CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD UNDER 90,000 MILES AND HAS SERIOUS AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SUBFRAME (K FRAME) AND DAMAGE THAT IS MAKING THE CAR DEEMED UNSAFE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SEEING HOW THE 07 MODELS ARE IN THE SAME DEFECT AND HAS A RECALL
LEFT FRONT WHEEL (LEFT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY?) BROKE AND WHEEL/TIRE WAS DETACHED FROM VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING THE CAR TO "COLLIDE" WITH THE GROUND (GEICO DEFINITION - POLICY 4324 0054 06, CLAIM 048 555 271010 1019; ADJUSTER CHARLES FINCHER) ) AND LOSING CONTROL BEFORE SKIDDING TO A STOP. DAMAGE INCLUDED WHEEL WELL, HOOD, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, BREAKING SYSTEM, AND WHEEL CONNECTION HARDWARE. RECEIPT IS IN THE MAIL FROM THE REPAIR SHOP (NORTH CANTON COLLISION IN CANTON OH) SO WE DON'T HAVE EXACT DAMAGE SPECIFICS YET.
DURING A SEVERE RAINSTORM IN MY AREA, I WAS LEAVING AN EVENT PARKING LOT TO DRIVE HOME. WHILE WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE RAIN. THEY FAILED TO START. WHILE SITTING AT THE LIGHT I RESTARTED MY CAR HOPING THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE APPARENT 'SHORT' IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BUT IT DID NOT. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WAS FORCED TO MOVE FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING SLOW, I ROLLED MY WINDOW DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO GUIDE THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER. I COULDN'T IDENTIFY A PLACE THROUGH ALL OF THE RAIN, AND ALSO I WAS DRIVING IN BUSY DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN MORE BUT LOOKED FORWARD AND ALL I COULD SEE WERE TREES COMING UP QUICKLY THROUGH THE BLURRY WINDSHIELD; I IMMEDIATELY JOLTED TO A STOP AS I HIT AN ISLAND/MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR WAS SCRAPED BY TREES AND PARKING CONES WHICH WERE LAYING IN THE MEDIAN. I HEARD SCRAPING AND A LARGE THUD AS MY CAR CAME TO A STOP. STILL IN THE RAIN, I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND WAITED UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIVED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I AM EXTREMELY IRRITATED THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN A TERRIBLE RAINSTORM. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. MY VEHICLE IS 6 YEARS OLD; AT THE 5 YEAR MARK I TOOK IT IN FOR A FULL-SYSTEM MAINTENANCE WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY CHOICE IN PURCHASING DODGE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT HIS DRIVEWAY IN SNOWY CONDITIONS AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 3 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE IN THE SNOW AND CRASH INTO A VEHICLE IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 35,222.
I TOOK MY CALIBER IN FOR SOME WARRANTY WORK. THEY FOUND THE LEFT STRUT WAS BAD. THEY ORDERED THE PART. I WENT BACK IN THE NEXT WEEK FOR THE STRUT AND ALIGNMENT. WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING BACK FROM THE ALIGNMENT PLACE, THEY HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY CAR. THEY FIXED IT. I HAVE SINCE THEN BROUGHT IT BACK TO A ROAR IN THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME MY TIRES WERE BAD. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT AND THEY SAID NO. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, AGAIN NO. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD ALIGN A CAR WITH BAD TIRES. THEY HAVE MADE NO DEAL FOR ME IN THIS MATTER. THE TIRES DID NOT GO BAD IN A MATTER OF A WEEK. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING TO A T INTERSECTION; I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND I WENT FROM ~55MPH TO 45MPH OVER THE COURSE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD OR SO. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE. IT WAS THE 2008 CALIBER SRT4. THE SRT4 HAS A MASSIVE BRAKE KIT FROM THE CHARGER AND MAGNUM ON IT WHICH SHOULD HAVE MADE IT STOP RELATIVELY QUICKLY. I MASHED MY VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE INTERSECTION AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND AIRBAGS ON THE 2008 CALIBER SRT4. *TR
