2008 DODGE CALIBER Complaints

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.

VEHICLE: DODGE CALIBER SXT MODEL 2008 ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD I WAS RETURNING FROM MEXICO STATE TO PUEBLA AROUND 3 PM, USING THE HIGHWAY. I NOTICED A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR, SIMILAR TO WHEN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDS CLEANING. ABOUT 2 KM PRIOR TO GETTING TO PUEBLA TOLL, THE BRAKES DID NOT ANSWERED AT ALL, THE INSTRUMENT PANELS INDICATOR DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEM. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BY USING THE MOTOR (L), UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY WITH THE HAND BRAKE. FORTUNATELY I HAD A GOOD SPACE WITH CARS PRECEDING AND AVOIDED ANY COLLISION BY ALSO USING THE ALERT LIGHTS. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS THE MANUAL STATES, AND HAVE NEVER DETECTED ANY PROBLEM RELATED BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE FAIL WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER PROBLEM, AND THEY UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE TO A MORE RECENT VERSION, STATING THAT WILL AVOID THE PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, BUT "NOT TOO MANY...". THEN CHECKING NHTSA WEBPAGE FOUND SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT DEALERSHIP NEVER REPORT ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND SINCE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED A REMEDY WAS NOT PROVIDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,591 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,501.

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE O2 SENSORS CONTINUE TO FAIL AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST TEN TIMES AND THEY KEEP REPLACING THE SENSORS EACH VISIT. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,438.

AFTER PURCHASING MY DODGE CALIBER IN FEBRUARY OR 2008 I NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY ACCURATE. IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 6 MONTHS FOR SCHAEFER AND STROHMINGER TO "FIX" IT. I CALLED THEM AFTERWARDS TO TELL THEM IT WAS BETTER BUT NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT AND THEY PUT ME OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE ENGINEER AND FOLLOW UP WITH ME. THAT NEVER HAPPENED EVEN AFTER THE CEO OF THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I MET THE LEMON LAW REQUIREMENTS. DURING THIS TIME THE CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN STARTING. I ALSO ASKED THEM ABOUT THAT PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING IT IN THE SHOP TWICE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I CALLED AHEAD TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE HE'D HAD SEVERAL OTHERS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY IN THE CALIBER. IT WAS THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY REPLACED IT. IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW AND THE CAR HAS HESITATED WHILE STARTING 4 TIMES ALREADY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FAULT IN THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE UNIT THEY ARE USING. FINALLY, I'M TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE WATER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND WET CARPET BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. I'M VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT PLAN ON BUYING FROM DODGE OR SCHAEFER AND STROHMINGER AGAIN. *TR

MY FRONT SEAT MAKES ANNOYING SQUEAKS WHEN TRAVELING ON ROAD IMPERFECTIONS, POT HOLES AND SPEED DUMPS AT ANY SPEED. I NOTICED THE SOUND WHEN MY CAR WAS IN THE MID 4,000 MILES. ALSO THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK WHEN I BRAKED IN REVERSE. MY CAR IS NOW 13,383 (SIX MONTHS LATE) AND I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THE SEAT STILL SQUEAKS. THEY TIGHTENED BOTH FRONT SEATS AND THE TRACKS. THEY ALSO REPLACED ONE OF THE TRACKS DURING ANOTHER VISIT. EACH TIME I TAKE MY CAR IN THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT AS SOON I GO OVER THE SPEED BUMP WHILE EXITING THE DEALERSHIP, THE SEAT STILL SQUEAKS. I CALLED THE MANAGER FOR THE DEALERSHIP WHICH HE WAS THE ONE THAT HAD HELPED ME. HE IS ASKING FOR A SIXTH VISIT TO REPAIR THE SQUEAKING NOISE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE THAT A SQUEAK MAY NOT BE A BIG DEAL BUT IF THERE IS A SOUND THEN THAT MEANS THERE IS FRICTION WHICH OVER TIME WILL CAUSE WEAR TO THE SEAT AND MAY CAUSE A FAILURE TO HOLD IF IN A COLLISION. LASTLY, WHEN IDLING AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS THE RHYTHM OF THE ENGINE RANDOMLY JERKS/BOGG AS IF IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO DIE OUT.*TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2008 DODGE CALIBER WITH 14,100 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES WEREN'T RIGHT FROM THE NIGHT I BROUGHT IT HOME. I CALLED AND COMPLAINED, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY PUT NEW BRAKES ON IT AND TO GIVE IT A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF IT WOULD GET BETTER. IT DID NOT, I STILL HAD A PULSING OR THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK IT BACK, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I ASKED ABOUT THE TIRES AND I WAS TOLD "THE TIRES PASSED INSPECTION". I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES, AND WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD TIRE, IT WASN'T ROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE BAD TIRE THEN WENT ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT I DID, THEY WERE ANGRY AND SAID NOTHING WAS MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR AND AGAIN THE TIRES HAD PASSED INSPECTION. AFTER MUCH ARGUING THEY AGREED TO EITHER PUT ON 4 NEW TIRES AT HALF THE COST TO ME OR PUT ON ANOTHER USED TIRE. I CHOSE TO HAVE ANOTHER USED TIRE PUT ON. THE CAR NOW PULSES OR THUMPS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T GET 5 MILES UP THE ROAD AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT CALIBERS ARE KNOWN FOR "CHOPPING TIRES" AND IF I GOT NEW TIRES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ROTATED WITHOUT FAIL EVERY 6K MILES. I DIDN'T EVEN CALL THE DEALERSHIP BACK ABOUT THE NOISE. I SENT IN A FORM COMPLAINING THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT RESOLVED. THEY WERE HORRIBLE TO EVEN TALK TO, THEY SAID TIRES WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE 1/2 OFF THE TIRES WAS A ONE TIME OFFER. I LIKE MY CAR BUT I CAN'T STAND THE THUMPING NOISE THE TIRES MAKE. IF THE CAR IS KNOWN TO DO THIS WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE TO CORRECT IT?? BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT A ROCK BOTTOM PRICE I CAN'T EXPECT TO HAVE NEW TIRES ON THE CAR AND I HAVE TO BASICALLY LIVE WITH IT I WAS TOLD SO THAT IS WHY I AM COMPLAINING. I PAID A LITTLE OVER $10000. FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS NEW TO ME, I STILL HAVE THE BALANCE OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY LEFT ON THE CAR. IT'S A NICE CAR TO ME AND IT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME. I JUST WANTED SOMEONE TO KNOW. *TR

DURING A RECENT TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, MY PARTNER AND I RENTED A DODGE CALIBER. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT SYSTEMS. DURING OUR TRIP WE HAD MANY INSTANCES WHEN OUR SEAT BELTS WOULD COME UNBUCKLED. AFTER EXAMINING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING WE FOUND THE PROBLEM. IF YOU JUST BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELT WITHOUT LOOKING, LIKE MOST AMERICANS DO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT THE BUCKLE INTO THE PLASTIC LATCH HOUSING AND NOT THE LATCH ITSELF. IT FEELS VERY SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU CORRECTLY LATCH THE BELT. IT WILL ALSO HOLD IN THAT POSITION, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR