2007 Dodge Caliber Body & Structure Problems

The window regulators of this car (& other vehicles of the same model) is a poor product of productivity. The cable wires that hold the window to guide the window up & down are known to & have become tangled up around the component that is said to properly wrap up the guided cable wires in the correct placement for the windows to continue to be able to roll up & down as intended. It's not just one door, it is literally every single door in this vehicle that has this issue. When I decided to try & save a little bit of money & get some used window regulators, I go to a salvage yard that had another dodge caliber (different model, how ever, same window regulators) just to find upon inspection, that every single door has a spoon in between the window & the rubber guard piece. Took the door panel off to further inspect & that vehicle had the same issue I have at this very moment... Cable wires completely tangled up and completely non salvageable. Removed the spoon & the window fell down. Now I understand that it doesn't sound like a safety issue but when you are driving down the highway, doing the speed limit, and your window falls down, it's very startling and honestly a distraction while driving. Not only is that a distraction but have you ever had a bird fly into your car, from the hole that was once a window? Talk about a distraction. It's like a bee flying into your helmet while riding a motorcycle or 4wheeler. Ah! Main focus is that flying object to come out, so you try to roll down the other windows only to remember after pushing the buttons that, oh wait, they won't roll down. Ever since the window fell, Not only is that a safety issue for the ones in my car, now it's a safety issue for those driving onside of me till I can get onto the shoulder, if there is one. And hopefully the weather is nice Yes, it has been confirmed & inspected by an independent service center, & yes it is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps.

VERY BAD DESIGN OF MUFFLER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE MUFFLER HAS A HOLE ON TOP. THAT HEAT EFFECT THE BATTOM TRUNCK, THE HOOD GET MELTED, HEAT SHEILD GET BURNED AND THE ROAD ASSISTANT TIRE GET MELTED AS WELL. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO SMELL IT. ALSO ALL BODY GET VERY RUSTED AND LOOK HOURRIBLE.

I had brought my 2003 Stratus and 2007 Caliber in to the dealership for their 3000 mile oil change and check-up. When the Stratus was done, I switched it out with the Caliber. The receptionist came into the waiting room to inform me that my vehicle was dangerous to drive. The engine cradle had rotted out. The manager had asked her to tell me: "If you hit a big bump, your engine could fall out." She showed me a picture of the area in question. I asked what I was supposed to be looking for and was shown where the cradle was supposed to be. A post-it note was on the picture saying that the manager "will do some pricing". The invoice states: "We question the structural integrity of it being able to hold up much longer." When I did not hear anything for a few weeks, I called in and was told that it had not been done but the manager would get right on it. I had asked the manager how this could have been missed during all the years I had been bringing it in for any kind of maintenance and was told: "It probably looks worse that what it should because I poked it with a screwdriver a few times to see how bad it was." Invoice total: $1884.20. I have since spoken with a general manager for Magna Corporation who produced the cradle for the Caliber. They were aware of the design flaw of the cradle that did not allow for drainage of water/road chemicals from the cradle. A lawsuit was filed by Magna against Dodge which Magna won. The particulars of the lawsuit were not made known to me other than Magna charges $42 for the cradle, but I was billed $859. I have found numerous customer complaints online over the corrosion of the cradle in other Dodge model years as well. The 2007 Caliber seems to have more overall customer complaints that all othe model years combined.

FRONT SUBFRAME FAILURE DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH A SIT HAPPENED WHILE TURNING LEFT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE FAILURE CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AXLE

MY FRONT CARRIAGE THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND TIRE ALIGNMENT OUTSIDE SHELL RUSTING OUT ON THE BACK SIDE.

THE VEHICLES SUBFRAME WAS ALL ROTTED AND DRIVERS SIDE TIRE PRACTICALLY FELL OFF WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THERE WASN'T AN OPEN RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. MY QUESTION IS WAS THERE A RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IF SO WHEN/WHERE WAS IT FIXED. WE BOUGHT THIS USED AND HAVE NO PRIOR INFORMATION ON IT. IF THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED ON PREVIOUS RECALLS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT NOW. *TR

STARTED HEARING A LOUD BANGING NOISE WHENEVER I WOULD HIT A BUMP OR TURN LEFT COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. AFTER GETTING HOME, I CHECKED AND THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWED MAJOR CORROSION TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAD WAS DRIVING THERE WAS A VIBRATION WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR WHEEL FELT AS IF WAS ABOUT TO DETACHED. THE DRIVER NOTICED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BOTH CROSS MEMBER WERE CORRODED WITH HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE ANNUAL INSPECTON WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT FRONT SUBFRAME ON VEHICLE WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE AND OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON ENOUGH THAT CHRYSLER HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WOULD NOT BE HONORED, EVEN THOUGH SAFETY WAS A FACTOR. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITH A RECALL.

WHILE GETTING MAINTENENCE DONE ON MY CAR, I WAS INFORMED BY MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT AND REAR SUB FRAMES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THE MANY CALIBER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE. DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT HONOR THE FORMER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH SAFETY IS AT STAKE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A SIBLING'S HOME WHERE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO ALMOST SEPARATE FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. SAWYER MOTORS (166 ULSTER AVE, SAUGERTIES, NY 12477, (845) 247-5027) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 64699050. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *TR *BF THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE CHECK-UP, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED SHOTTENKIRK CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE AT 888-344-9954 (LOCATED AT 2301 E WASHINGTON ST, MOUNT PLEASANT, IA 52641) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 177,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY SON HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE (SQUEAKING AND CLUNKING) WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR BY THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. UPON INVESTIGATING WHEN WE GRABBED THE STABILIZER ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT HAD SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT. WE GRABBED THE LEFT SIDE FOR COMPARISON AND IT DID NOT MOVE. WE FOLLOWED THE STABILIZER BAR AND FOUND THAT THE POINT WHERE THE BUSHING ATTACHES TO THE SUBFRAME HAD CRACKED OFF. WHILE LOOKING AT THE SUBFRAME CLOSER IT HAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION/RUST (A LOT MORE THAN A VEHICLE WITH 120K MILES SHOULD HAVE). WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE WILLING TO "WARRANTY" (EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD) THE FRONT AND BACK SUBFRAME HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY PARTS THAT ATTACHED TO THE SUBFRAME. WE WERE TOLD THAT IF ANY BOLTS/PARTS THAT BROKE WERE OUR RESPONSIBILITY WHICH COULD COST UP TO $2000 WHICH IS HALF THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO WITH CHRYSLER COVERING THE SUBFRAME PIECES AND LABOR (ESTIMATED $1000) TECHNICALLY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED (COMBINED TOTAL REPAIR COSTS $3000 ON A CAR WORTH $4000)....AND NOW AN 18 YEAR OLD KID NO LONGER HAS A CAR. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND SHOULD HAVE EASILY GONE ANOTHER 80K MILES AT A MINIMUM. SUCH A SHAME TO SCRAP/PART OUT A VEHICLE AT 120K MILES FOR A MANUFACTURING/QUALITY DEFICIENCY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED GRIFFIN'S HUB CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (LOCATED AT 5700 S 27TH ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53221, (414) 325-3333), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE K MEMBER JUST BROKE AS HE APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION. IT IS NOW ON A TRAILER UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN.

FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED SO BADLY THE BOLTS ARE BARELY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN, SO CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MILEAGE: 126,000. DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY THROUGH 2016 TO FIX THIS, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE AS I HAD BOUGHT IT USED IN 2014 FROM A NON-DODGE DEALERSHIP. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IS QUOTING $1200 TO REPAIR, INCLUDING $700 FOR THE SUBFRAME ITSELF FROM CHRYSLER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE FROM MANY OTHER DODGE CALIBER OWNERS, SO THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.

THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE CV AXLE PULLED OUT BECAUSE OF THE RUSTED SUB FRAME. THE CAR HAS 137,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REST OF THE CAR IS NOT RUSTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY GIRLFRIEND COULD'VE BEEN HURT. SHE HAS KIDS THAT COULD'VE BEEN HURT IF THEY WERE IN THE CAR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. REIMBURSEMENT OR A PORTION OF MY $1300 WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BACK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE REAR SUBFRAME. THE MAINTENANCE WORK COULD NOT BE SAFELY COMPLETED DUE TO THE RUST. JIM SHORKEY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (LOCATED AT 13230 US-30, IRWIN, PA 15642, (412) 872-2400) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 279,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD CORRODED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,978.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED PER AN UNSPECIFIED FAILURE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED SPOKE WITH CORPORATE ABOUT UNDERCARRIAGE ( ABOUT 4 MONTHS PAST EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRATION) APPROVED REPAIR. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP BUT THE SHOP DID NOT HAVE ANY NOTES FROM CORPORATE. ON 12/18 DRIVERSIDE BALL - JOINT RUSTED AND SNAPPED, HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. CONTACTED CORPORATE 4 TIMES BUT NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH BOTH FRONT DOOR HINGES RUSTED OUT, BACK DOORS ARE STARTING TOO, THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AT HALF WAY SHUT. *JB