2008 Dodge Caliber Complaints

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while taking the vehicle into a local state inspection, he was notified that the vehicle did not pass inspection due to the K-frame of the undercarriage was fractured due to corrosion and rust. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

2008 DODGE CALIBER SUB FRAME/K-FRAME FRONT END CROSSMEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO RIP FREE FROM FRAME (SEPERATING PART OF FRAME, WITH LOWER CONTROL ARM) FROM REST OF FRAME. THIS LEFT DRIVER WITH NO CONTROL OF AFFECTED WHEEL WHICH TURNING IT 90 DEGREES OUT FROM NORMAL OPERATING POSITION. LEFT OPERATOR WITH NO ABILITY TO STEER WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN PRIMARY (35 MPH SPEED LIMIT) TWO LANE ROAD. CAR SLID TO HALT IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED. DODGE/CHRYSLER APPARENTLY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND NEVER NOTIFIED OWNER. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED NOTICE. FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION (X69 WARRANTY EXTENSION) - 2008-2012 DODGE CALIBER & JEEP COMPASS/PATRIOT OEMDTC JULY 17, 2017 15 COMMENTS NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10140027 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 23-007-17 REV. B SUMMARY FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION (X69 WARRANTY EXTENSION) THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT. IT IS UNFATHOMABLE THAT DODGE...

THE FRONT CALIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS NO STOPPING POWER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND CALIPERS ARE NEW REPLACEMENTS. AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS IT NOW SMELL OF BURNT BRAKE FLUID BUT THERE IS NO LEAK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DOING 45-50 ON A COUNTY RD WHEN A ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT 20 FEET AWAY AND I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN I LOST THE FRONT BRAKES AS PISHED IN ON THE PUSHED IN ON THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SANK AND THEY DIDN'T ENGAGE. I THEN BOUGHT THE NEW CALIPERS AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE SECOND TIME I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHEN THE ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN ME RUNNING A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST GETTING HIT. IT HAS CORRODED AND TOOK HUNKS OFF ALUMINUM FROM MY FRONT DRIVER RIM. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM AND KEEP REPLACING PARTS FOR IT TO TEAR UP NEW ONES

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TECHNICIAN TOLD US THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED THROUGHOUT AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN ADVISED IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS MODEL WAS GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER X69 NOTICE, HOWEVER WARRANTY MAY HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE X69 NOTICE BUT WAS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED IN JUNE 2018. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF VEHICLE BAND NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE ISSUE FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE. THE CROSSMEMBER RUST ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL FOR THIS PART.

I HAVE HAD MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER SINCE 2009. SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED BOTH TIE RODS 4 TIMES. I JUST HAD THEM DONE AGAIN ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN. I HAVE CHANGED THE BALL JOINTS AS WELL.. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED I READ A LOT OF FORUMS AND EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME THING.