Model year record
2008 Dodge Caliber Awd recalls & problems
The 2008 Dodge Caliber Awd has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 17 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is suspension (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Dodge Caliber Awd.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| SuspensionFront | 5 | 40,000 mi |
| Electrical system | 5 | 98,500 mi |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Door; Body | 2 | — |
| Power train | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | — |
| TiresPressure monitoring and regulating systems | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 1 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
MY 2008 DODGE CALIBER WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION 2 WEEKS AGO. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS A K FRAME RECALL ON 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, BUT NOT 2008. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT HAS RUINED MY NEW TIRES. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2000 FOR REPAIRS. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED JANUARY OF 2018.
- Structure › Body
COMING HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING HOME WITH A FLASHLIGHT. ALSO THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAD. OUR OIL CHANGED AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND THE OIL PAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON
- Fuel/propulsion system
WHEN FUELING CAR GAS INTAKE CUTS OFF REPEATEDLY. TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO PUT GAS IN CAR. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY 7 - 8 MONTHS.
- Electrical system
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PICTURE CAME ON DASH AS I WAS TRYING TO START CAR TO LEAVE FROM MY HOME. CAR SHUT OFF AND DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN. DONT WANT TO RUN BATTERY DOWN. CAR STILL IN GARAGE AT HOME.
- Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEATED SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE SEATS TO OVERHEAT LEAVING A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES BEHIND THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR OF THE SEAT WAS WARM AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING THE WIPER BLADES TO FAIL AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MAIN WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND THE HEATED PAD, WIRING, ZONE, COVER, AND SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE OVERHEATED SEAT FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE…
- Suspension
WHILE GETTING A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION ON A LOW MILEAGE (56K) GARAGE KEPT DODGE CALIBER THE CAR FAILED DUE BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST, FRACTURES AND HOLES. BOTH THE SUBFRAMES CROSSMEMBERS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2007 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT HONORED ON THE 2008.
- Electrical system
CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TIPM. I OFTEN TRAVEL THE FREEWAY AND WAS EXPERIENCING A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH A VARIETY OF DODGE MODEL CARS AND FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. I FEEL THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM FAILURE HAS ON THESE MODELS AS WELL AS THEIR SAFETY FEATURE IS NUMEROUS. I ALSO QUITE SURE THAT THE COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF ITS DEFECTS, YET THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER AWD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.