2008 Dodge Caliber: common problems and reliability
The 2008 Dodge Caliber has 377 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are suspension and structure. Owners most often flag cvt transmission failure — complete loss of power, failure to engage gears, overheating, whining noise at highway speeds, throwing p0700 diagnostic codes. described as a very common point of catastrophic failure. frequency: very frequent.
Safety record for the 2008 model year
377
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
21
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Dodge Caliber vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
suspension
118
structure
89
electrical system
63
engine
43
power train
39
What owners say across generations
Overwhelmingly negative sentiment based on long-term owner reports. The vehicle is widely characterized as unreliable, poorly built, and a poor value proposition, even at very low purchase prices. Positive feedback is extremely rare and isolated, typically fro
CVT transmission failure — Complete loss of power, failure to engage gears, overheating, whining noise at highway speeds, throwing P0700 diagnostic codes. Described as a very common point of catastrophic failure. Frequency: very frequent.
Major electrical system failures — Erratic dashboard behavior (lights illuminating, gauges spinning), vehicle entering limp mode, repeated failure of the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), numerous communication error codes (U0100, U0141, etc.). Frequency: very frequent.
General mechanical unreliability — Serpentine belt failures, premature failure of water pumps, alternators, and other accessory components. Engine noises suggesting internal valvetrain problems. Frequency: very frequent.
Clutch and manual transmission problems — Difficulty shifting into gear, inability to engage any gear, slave or master cylinder failure, dramatically changing clutch engagement point. Frequency: recurrent.
Poor build quality and materials — Interior described as cramped with poor ergonomics (knee room, pedal placement), extremely thick pillars creating major blind spots, low-quality interior materials. Frequency: recurrent.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Caliber.
Typical used price
Used Caliber listings typically run $3,999–$6,848 across 2007 to 2012 model years.