Total Complaints
23 filings
DODGE CALIBER AWD · model year
23 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008DODGECALIBER AWD carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 CALIBER AWD is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by suspension (4) and power train (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2008 CALIBER AWD, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
23 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
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.
Mileage: 47,500
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
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
WHEN FUELING CAR GAS INTAKE CUTS OFF REPEATEDLY. TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO PUT GAS IN CAR. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY 7 - 8 MONTHS.
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.
Mileage: 100,000
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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Mileage: 97,000
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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Mileage: 97,000
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.
Mileage: 56,708
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
Mileage: 129,000
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
Mileage: 129,000
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
Mileage: 129,000
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.
Mileage: 56,000
VEHICLE STARTING MAKING A SOUND. WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. *TR
Mileage: 56,000
HAD TO REPLACE THE WISH BONES. AND AM ON MY 5 TH SET IF TIRES SINCE MAY OF 2012. WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP AT $130 A PIECE FOR THE CHEAPEST. ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS OFF AND TIRES HAVE TO BE PUMPED EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
Mileage: 63,000
HAD TO REPLACE THE WISH BONES. AND AM ON MY 5 TH SET IF TIRES SINCE MAY OF 2012. WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP AT $130 A PIECE FOR THE CHEAPEST. ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS OFF AND TIRES HAVE TO BE PUMPED EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
Mileage: 63,000
FOUND BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM'S WORN TO A POINT WHERE THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS NYS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF WORN BALL JOINTS. *JS
Mileage: 40,000
WENT TO YOUR CAR ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7,2013 TO OPEN MY DRIVER DOOR AND IT FELL OFF THE HINGE. PURCHASE THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT SINCE I'VE BEEN THE OWNER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND I'M JUST SHOCKED THE HINGE WOULD BREAK. I NEED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HINGE IS DEFECTIVE AND THIS SORT OF THING IS NOT A COMMON INCIDENT. *TR
IF IT IS 80 DEGREES OR HOTTER, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER DOOR OR BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE KEY. THEY WILL NOT PERFORM THE AUTOMATIC LOCK WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING THE HATCH BECAUSE THERE IS NO KEY HOLE. I'M AFRAID THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS HOT WEATHER OR WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A LONG TRIP. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Mileage: 53,000
FRONT TIRES PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING COMPLETELY. CAR HAS 38K MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $650.00 AND NOW BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT A COST OF $580.00. VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THESE LOW MILES. THE MECHANIC SAID THE FRONT WHEELS WERE VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF OF THE CAR. CAN YOU HELP? *TR
Mileage: 38,000
BOTH OF THE TIE RODS ON MY CAR ARE COMPLETELY WORN AT 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE CALIBERS - PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIE RODS. *TR
Mileage: 36,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.