2007 DODGE CALIBER Complaints

I BOUGHT A 2007 DODGE CALIBER IN DEC 07. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I STARTED TO HEAR AND FEEL FRONT END NOISE/VIBRATION. THIS BEGAN UNDER 10,000 MILES. THEY HAVE CUT THE FRONT ROTORS ,REPLACED FRONT STRUT AND SWAY BAR LINKS, ALL OF WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE REAL PROBLEM. DEALER SINCE , STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TIRES (DUNLOP) BECAUSE I DID NOT ROTATE AT THE RIGHT MILEAGE. I NOW HAVE 26,000 MILES AND I WON'T BUY NEW TIRES JUST YET. I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE NOISE AND VIBRATION BUT CHRYSLER HAS TO LIVE WITH THE BAD REPUTATION THAT ALL THESE COMPLAINTS IS GIVING THEM. THEY WILL NOT HELP RESOLVE THIS SITUATION AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. WHY ISN'T ANY GOV'T AGENCY GETTING INVOLVED? IT'S A '!@#$% SHAME! *TR

MESSAGE: I AM WRITING ABOUT MY FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA P215/55R1894T TIRES. THEY CAME ON MY THEN NEW 2007 DODGE CALIBER R/T. I NOTED WITH THE DEALER ON 1/2/09 WITH 24800 MILES, THAT EVEN BEFORE THAT THE TIRES ARE MAKING A THUMPING NOICE. IT SEEMS THEY ARE GETTING EVEN LOUDER. THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES BY ME AND THE DEALER AND SEEM TO BE WEARING EVENLY. I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS? *TR

2007 DODGE CALIBER SE (AND OTHER MODELS) MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ITS SUSPENSION OR ALIGNMENT THAT CAUSES TIRE "CUPPING" WHICH CAN RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE OR LOSS OF CONTROL. TIRE CUPPING ON MY CALIBER BEGAN PRIOR TO 20,000 MILES. OTHER REPORTS I'VE SEEN ONLINE BEGAN MUCH EARLIER - SOME WITH SLIGHTLY MORE MILEAGE. MY VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED PROPERLY AND ROTATED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION. MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION ON THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS "FINE" BUT THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WERE DUNLOP 205/70 R15S, WHICH CAME FROM THE FACTORY. OTHERS I'VE TALKED TO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TIRES AND OTHER BRANDS FROM THE FACTORY AND IN THE AFTERMARKET. THE COST TO REPLACE TIRES IS $300 MINIMUM, WHICH IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT A BIGGER CONCERN OF MINE IS POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE OR LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET ROADS DUE TO THE IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL DODGE CALIBER FORUMS ONLINE THAT DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM. FOR MONTHS THE SITES CLAIM DODGE/CHRYSLER WILL ISSUE A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE, BUT SO FAR THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. *TR

ON SATURDAY, 5/30/09, WHILE DRIVING DODGE CALIBER 2007 BACK HOME, ALL INSTRUMENT GAUGES NEEDLES SUDDENLY AND ERRATICALLY SWING UP AND DOWN. I STARTED SMELLING A ROTTEN-EGG SULFUR ODOR AND EXPERIENCED MILD THROAT AND LUNG IRRITATION. AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME, WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING, I STARTED INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF GAUGES NEEDLES ERRATIC MOTION AND SOURCE OF SULFUR ODOR. FIRST, I CHECKED THE RECENTLY REPLACED MANUFACTURER ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR, WHICH HAS RECENTLY CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. PLEASE SEE RECENTLY FILED 5/16/09, NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT, ODI #10268931. AFTER I VERIFIED THAT THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS WORKING CORRECTLY, I STARTED SNIFFING AND TRACING THE SOURCE OF SULFUR ODOR. FIRST, I THOUGHT ODOR WAS COMING FROM COMPUTER MODULE; THEN, I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM FUSE BOX NEXT TO COMPUTER MODULE. AS I SNIFFED CLOSER TO FUSE BOX, UNDER PLASTIC ENGINE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, I NOTICED BATTERY SQUIRTING BOILING-STEAMING SULFURIC ACID. I FOUND THE SOURCE OF ROTTEN-EGG SULFUR ODOR. I REMOVED THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD TO FULLY EXPOSE THE BATTERY AND TAKE PHOTOS. LUCKILY, I ONLY SUFFERED MILD IRRITATION TO MY THROAT AND LUNGS, BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN FATALLY EXPOSED TO SULFURIC ACID GAS POISONING, OR BATTERY COULD HAVE EXPLODED WITH FATAL OUTCOME. PHOTOS AND BATTERY ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW. I DON NOT KNOW IF UNSAFE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER ALTERNATOR CAUSED THIS UNSAFE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MANUFACTURER ORIGINAL BATTERY OR VICE-VERSA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND TIPM WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500.

MARCH 13, 2009, I PURCHASED A USED DODGE CALIBER 2007. FEW WEEKS LATER, I STARTER HEARING NOISE WHICH KEPT INCREASING IN INTENSITY AS THE DAYS WENT BY. I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A LOOSE OR BAD SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER OR IDLER. ON MAY 17, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BACK HOME, THE ABS, AIR BAG, BATTERY, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON. AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, I NOTICED SPARKS AROUND THE ALTERNATOR AREA. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT TOUCHING A LOOSE METAL THAT WAS CREATING THE SPARKS. TODAY, MAY 16, I REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR AND NOTICED THE ALTERNATOR WINDINGS ARCED AND MELTED THE COPPER WIRE WINDINGS AND THE ALUMINUM HOUSING. I HAVE THE ALTERNATOR AND PICTURES READILY AVAILABLE FOR YOUR EVALUATION. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHER DODGE CAVALIER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PREMATURE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS VERY UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE, EXPLOSION, ACCIDENT, AND FATALITIES. THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS RELATED TO THIS DANGEROUS ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *TR

DEAR SIR OR MADAM I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE CALIBER IN MAY OF 2007 FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR AGENCY , I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE WHAT I NOW KNOW IS CALLED A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. A FEW MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A WARRANTY FROM A COMPANY CALLED US FIDELIS AND NEEDLES TO SAY I WAS ON VACATION ALONE AND HAD CAR TROUBLE AND THIS COMPANY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND TO ADD FURTHER INSULT TO INJURY I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD COME FROM THE DODGE MANUFACTURER. I AM STILL A SINGLE WOMAN LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME AND STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT A CLUE WHERE OR HOW TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED. IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMIC TIME I HAVE LOST MY JOB AND MY HOUSE THE ONLY THING LEFT IS MY CAR SHOULD I NOW GIVE UP ON IT TO? DEAR SIR OR MADAM I WRITING IN REGARDS TO THIS WARRANTY COVERAGE, TODAY IS MAY 13TH EXACTLY 60 DAYS FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS COVERAGE. I AM ON VACATION AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 48 HOURS BEFORE SOME ONE COULD COME OUT AND INSPECT MY CAR. I LIVE IN MARYLAND AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN NEW JERSEY WHILE DRIVING BACK TO MARYLAND. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS ALONE WITH NOT MONIES TO RENT A CAR OR GET HOME. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CANCEL THIS COVERAGE AND REFUND THE $300.00 THAT I HAVE PAID YOUR COMPANY THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME. THANK YOU FOR LEAVING ME STRANDED ALONE WITH NO HELP AT ALL! THE BBB THAT WILL HANDLE YOUR COMPLAINT IS: BBB SERVING E. MISSOURI & S. ILLINOIS (SAINT LOUIS, MO) 15 SUNNEN DRIVE, STE. 107 SAINT LOUIS, MO 63143 PHONE: (314)645-3300 FAX: (314)645-2666 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: HTTP://WWW.STLOUIS.BBB.ORG YOU MAY WISH TO COPY OR PRINT THIS INFORMATION FOR FURTHER REFERENCE. ALL CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT YOUR COMPLAINT WILL COME FROM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THIS BBB. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2007 DODGE CALIBER NEW. I STARTED HAVING FRONT END "VIBRATIONS" ALMOST IMMEDIATELY (WHEN I DROVE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AFTER DELIVERY) MAINLY FROM 60-70MPH. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. TOOK IT BACK NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD ONCE THE TIRES WERE BAD; I REPLACED THEM AT MY EXPENSE. SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND WAS TOLD ONE OF THE RIMS WAS BENT; I BOUGHT NEW RIMS (ALMOST $1,000). TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE RIMS WERE BAD AGAIN. HAD THE RIMS CHECKED AND THEY ARE PERFECTLY ROUND. BOUGHT ANOTHER SET OF TIRES (SAME AS FACTORY); SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 69,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I GUESS I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT SINCE "IT'S MY IMAGINATION." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD. ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID TO THE RIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID STRIKING THE EMBANKMENT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SKID. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL AGAIN, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER ONCE BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COULD POSSIBLY BE DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

DODGE CALIBER 2007 WITH 44,000 MILES SHOWS A INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER STUCK OPEN CODE. WILL THIS EFFECT MY FEDERAL EMISSIONS CLAUSE AND WILL I BE IN VIOLATION? *TR