2008 Dodge Caliber Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a rusted-through front or rear crossmember (subframe/K-frame) that can allow the lower control arm to separate from the frame, along with worn front suspension parts such as ball joints, tie rods and control arms. Another recurring theme is a sudden loss of throttle or power with warning lights, which mechanics often trace to the electronic throttle body. Many reports come in at high mileage, but crossmember reports also appear on cars under 100,000 miles, several found during a routine state inspection.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rusted-through front/rear crossmember (subframe)

   • 120 complaints (33%)
   • median 110,925 mi at 9.0 yrs old (100 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,272 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2022

   Owners describe a rusted, cracked or holed front crossmember, engine cradle or K-frame, often found at yearly state inspection or after a clunking or popping noise from the front end. In several reports the lower control arm came away from the frame, and the car became hard to steer or had to be towed. Complaints state the vehicle was not repaired and that the dealer or manufacturer declined assistance, with several owners noting that a warranty extension they had heard about had already expired on their car. Most reports fall between roughly 70,000 and 180,000 miles, though some appear well under 100,000 miles and a few as low as 13,000 to 50,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look underneath at the front and rear crossmember and engine cradle for flaking rust, holes or cracks, ideally on a lift before buying. Ask whether the crossmember was inspected or replaced, and note that a service bulletin describes a warranty extension for crossmember corrosion on this platform.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2008 Dodge Caliber garage kept 49000 miles with a rusted busted frame. Didn't realize until knocking in front end. Always done repairs and recalls and this is dangerous. Called to request chrysler to be accountable and they basically told me its my problem. Where do you go from here in liability.”

   NHTSA complaint #10883319, filed 2016-07, 49,000 miles

   “Took vehicle to a reputable shop for required yearly state inspection. Shop found dangerously corroded front and rear sub frame assemblies. Research revealed that 2007 model year cars are being treated under an extended warranty for this identical problem, but 2008 cars are not covered. Both our dealer and the chrysler customer assistance center have been informed, and refused to extend the coverage to our vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10876438, filed 2016-06, 106,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Sudden loss of throttle and power (limp mode)

   • 61 complaints (17%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2023

   Owners describe the car suddenly losing power or dropping into limp mode, with the electronic throttle control, ESP or traction control and check engine lights coming on and little or no response from the accelerator. In some reports the engine stalled at a light or while driving and restarted only after cycling the ignition. Complaints say dealers or shops diagnosed the electronic throttle body or an unstated module, and that the problem sometimes returned after repair. Spread from about 33,000 to 130,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 70,000 and 110,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for a lightning-bolt or ETC light and any stumble when accelerating. Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced and whether related fault codes were read and cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Luckily, I was on a city street. The vehicle lost power and slowed significantly, almost stopping completely and began to reboot as if it were just being started. I am complaining because I do not feel it to be safe for consumers on any road. I have a 3 year old son and I would very much like Dodge to fix this problem before my, or anyone else's family, gets whiplash from a rear collision. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11324134, filed 2020-05, 90,000 miles

   “After turning on my car it began to lunge while in idle. As I attempted to back it out of the driveway the accelerator pedal had little to no effect. The car would not drive more than 10 MPH, still lunging. The indicator light for the electronic throttle control (etc) lit up and started blinking. I took it into the dealer and the diagnostic ($150) proved it to be the etc. The etc kit needed to be replaced which apparently is a dealer only part. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10532482, filed 2013-07, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Worn ball joints, tie rods and control arms

   • 55 complaints (15%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,125 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2022

   Owners report front-end noise over bumps, wandering or vibration through the steering wheel, and repeated replacement of ball joints, tie rod ends, control arms, struts and sway bar parts. Some say the same parts were replaced more than once within a few years and that alignment could not be corrected. Complaints describe the dealer either replacing parts one at a time or saying there was no known problem for the vehicle. Reported from as low as about 26,000 miles up to 170,000 miles, often described as recurring every few months to a couple of years.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a mechanic check ball joints, tie rod ends and control arm bushings for play, and confirm the car tracks straight and aligns within spec. Ask for service records showing how often front suspension parts were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Let me start by saying that I love driving my 2008 Dodge Caliber and wish that it was worth repairing all of the issues that I am researching are common problems among fellow owners of this year, make and model of vehicle. As a person who pays close attention to my vehicle, repair costs have been adding up over the past couple of years. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11218619, filed 2019-06, 170,000 miles

   “I have a 2008 Dodge Caliber we bought it in april 2013 and about every 5-6 months we have to replace struts, ball joints,etc. Plus have the sway bar worked on that often as well..... Dodge needs to recall all these cars with this defect and we have problems with alignments... These cars are very high maintenance because they are so defected and no one can afford to replace all this and keep their cars in shops every 5-6 months... Please Dodge do something about all of this...”

   NHTSA complaint #10733672, filed 2015-07, 155,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Warning lights, stalling and electrical faults

   • 89 complaints (25%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2023

   Owners describe dash warning lights flickering or staying on, the car stalling or briefly rebooting while driving, and intermittent failures of lighting, wipers or the airbag light. In some cases shops could not reproduce the fault or find a code, and bulb or wiring replacement did not stop it. Some complaints also mention water leaking into the cabin and onto the floor after rain. Reported from very low mileage up to about 190,000 miles, often around 80,000 to 120,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag, ABS or battery light has been on, and check carpets and headliner for water stains after rain. Have any stored codes read before purchase and confirm that recent electrical repairs actually resolved the complaint.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The right front passenger fog/blinker goes is not always functional. When the front right fog/blinker is not working the back blinks fast to indicate a bulb out. The bulbs have been replaced the wiring has been checked from the tipm box all the way to the light. I have gone over 2 months without my car to see what's wrong but no one can figure it out and there are no codes that generate. The tipm box is working in perfect order and that is not the cause. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10850768, filed 2016-03, 120,000 miles

   “I bought this vehicle on 09/11/2013 and a day later I noticed the back drivers side floor & mat was sopping wet.(it was raining the day I purchased the vehicle) I felt under the drivers seat & that was wet as well but not as wet as the back. Feeling the front drivers side mat I noticed that was wet too as was the carpet underneath! I ran the shop vac to get all the water out. I was going away for three days so when I got to my destination I checked the floor again & it was sopping wet again!! There was no rain that day! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10543782, filed 2013-09, 99,555 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission limp mode, jerking or overheating

   • 26 complaints (7%)
   • median 71,040 mi at 6.7 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners report jerking, a drop to low speed with the transmission temperature light on, and codes indicating lost communication with the transmission control module. Some were told the transmission needed replacement, while others describe overheating at highway speed after a fluid service or shifting problems that shops could not resolve. Mostly reported between about 58,000 and 240,000 miles, including several cases around 100,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the car at highway speed and on a long incline, and check that no transmission temperature or ESP light appears. Ask for transmission service history and whether any fault codes were stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After reaching 100k miles, I took the car to the dealership to have the transmission flushed. Since then my transmission over heats when I drive 65 or more MPH. I brought it back to the same dealer about a year later and they wanted to charge me $1500. I walked out! I drive 64 MPH to keep it from over heating.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360104, filed 2020-09, 100,000 miles

   “2008 Dodge Caliber stopped accelerating normally in september 2010 at about 43,000 miles (and about 6 months after I bought it from a mazda dealership). I took it to several transmission shops who all said they couldn't help, but had heard of many similar problems with this vehicle. I finally took it to the dealership for a diagnosis and was told the whole transmission needed to be replaced (at about $4000). This diagnosis seems to be very different from the throttle issue that I've read about online. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10458569, filed 2012-05, 43,000 miles

Buying note. Inspect the underside for crossmember and cradle rust before buying, since that is the most commonly reported concern and can affect whether the car is safe to drive. Budget for front suspension work and ask for records on throttle body and transmission repairs, as owners often describe repeat visits for both.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.