2009 Dodge CALIBER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
232 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 186 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 232 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 41 | 17.7% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 8.2% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 58 |
| Power Train | 52 |
| Structure:Body | 34 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Wheels | 11 |
Suspension: 58; Power Train: 52; Structure:Body: 34; Unknown Or Other: 25; Engine: 22; Electrical System: 19; Steering: 16; Wheels: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 48 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 48; 150,000 and above: 19
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 46 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 5; 2010: 13; 2011: 8; 2012: 19; 2013: 11; 2014: 13; 2015: 28; 2016: 41; 2017: 15; 2018: 19; 2019: 22; 2020: 9; 2021: 11; 2022: 12; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 41 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10322673 · 2010-03-29 (March 29, 2010)
BOUGHT VEHICLE END OF FEBRUARY 2009. DID NOT HEAR ANY TRANSMISSION NOISE UNTIL SOMETIME IN MAY 2009. TRANSMISSION NOISE WAS GETTING WORSE AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION NOISE CHECKED OUT. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISE WHEN TAKING OFF AND STOPPING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED @ MILEAGE 7371. DURING MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2010 TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING SAME NOISE AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION NOISE CHECKED OUT AGAIN @ MILEAGE 25882. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT TRANSMISS…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,882 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10364056 · 2010-11-04 (November 4, 2010)
09/2009 VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TOWED TO DEALER, SUGGESTED CAR HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND FIXED. 08/16/2010 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS JERKING BEFORE IT DIED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TOWED TO DEALER SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND FIXED. 09/14/2010 VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, WHEN STARTED DROVE 5 MILES AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, TOWED BACK TO DEALER SUGGESTED COOLANT WAS LEAKING ON THE RADIATOR AND BATTERY WAS BAD AND FIXED. 09/20/2010 ENGINE, THROTTLE AND ENG…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456390 · 2012-04-24 (April 24, 2012)
THE CAR STARTED HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. STALLING PROBLEMS ARE MORE COMMON DURING RAINY PERIODS BUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MOST INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE CAR IS ON IDLE, NO MOVEMENT, IN THE HIGHWAY OR AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR WILL VIBRATE AND IMMEDIATELY STALL OR TRY TO. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO REASON FOR THE STALLING HAS BEEN FOUND; CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO RECALL NOTICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE DODGE PERSONALIZE WEBSITE. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT AT THE MILITARY EXCHANGE NEW CAR SALES IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,587 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397292 · 2011-04-25 (April 25, 2011)
THE ABS SENSORS IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRE WELLS ARE SUDDENLY BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) TO NOT WORK PROPERLY; SENDING THE CAR INTO A SKID. ESC IS TO ASSIST DRIVERS IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES DURING EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS. ESC SENSES WHEN A VEHICLE IS STARTING TO SPIN (OVERSTEER) OR PLOW (UNDERSTEER), AND ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE?S COURSE BY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE THROTTLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AT INDIVIDUAL WHEELS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10397292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462294 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)
FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS TOTALLY WORN AND IN DANGER OF SEPARATING FROM CONTROL ARM. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE 50,000 MILES RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE INNER TIRE TREAD WEAR. OTHER POSSIBLE RESULTS: LOSS OF STEERING, SUSPENSION AND BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308225 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)
I RENTED A DODGE CALIBER FROM DOLLAR RENT-A-CAR IN HARTFORD, CN ON FRIDAY. JAN 29, 2009. ON THE THIRD TRIP IN THE CAR, ON JAN 30, I PARKED IT, REMOVED THE KEY, SET THE PARKING BRAKE, AND STARTED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR. TO THIS POINT, ALL WAS NORMAL. THEN, THE CAR STARTED UP ON ITS OWN, AND THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO RUN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN FOR 20-30 MINUTES REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DID WITH THE KEY. THE KEY DID NOT HAVE A REMOTE IGNITION SWITCH. I EVENTUALLY CONTACTED DOLLAR, AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10308225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283359 · 2009-09-09 (September 9, 2009)
1. 2009 DODGE CALIBER SXT, WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK AND THEN LOCK THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, IN TOWN OR ON FREEWAYS. DEALER HAS HAD CAR 7 DIFFERENT TIMES, AND IS UNABLE TO REPAIR OR EVEN SEE THE FAULT, ALTHOUGH HE HAS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOUND FAULT CODES FOR STUCK DOOR LOCK SWITCH. DEALER CURRENTLY HAS CAR TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE FAULTS. MAIN DOOR LOCK SWITCH (DRIVERS SIDE) REPLACED BY DEALER. WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED BY DEALER DUE TO DEALER INSTALLED AFTER MARKET ALARM SYSTEM INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342129 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
AFTER GETTING MISLEADING DIRECTIONS AND GOING DOWN AN UNKNOWN ROAD AND ENDING AT A STOP SIGN, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE DECIDING TO PASS THROUGH THE STOP SIGN ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. UPON PASSING ON OF THE LANES OF TRAFFIC WHERE THERE WAS A VEHICLE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WHICH GAVE ME MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GET ACROSS THE ROAD AND OUT OF NOWHERE A VEHICLE CAME FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND STRUCK MY VEHICLE FULL SPEED AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON SEEING THE VEHICLE LAST MINUTE MY DRIVER HIT THE BREAKS TO PRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10477883 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)
2009 DODGE CALIBER. CONSUMER STATES SMELL OF GAS LEAK AND MELTED WIRES GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP.*TGW THE WIRES ALSO MELTED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINES. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE MELTED WIRES AND THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10477883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11085068 · 2018-04-14 (April 14, 2018)
WHEN ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE IS SLOW TO TAKE OFF WITH MAX SPEEDS OF ONLY 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND 30 MPH CITY. I HAVE PRESSED THE GAS ALL THE WAY AND CAR IS STILL LAGGING. THE CEL STAYS ON AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE READ P0722 WHICH IS TRANS OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR U1146 WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION ERROR P0717 WHICH IS INPUT SPEED SENSOR 1 CIRCUIT NO SIGNAL P0700 WHICH IS TRANSAXLE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND P0712 WHICH IS TRANS FLUID TEMP SENSOR LOW INPUT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO PERFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,757 miles reported. Look up ODI 11085068 at NHTSA ↗