Problems with 2007 Dodge Caliber SUSPENSION

The vehicle had a failure of the front end parts, tie rod ends, ball joints. paid to have it repaired last year and now it has happened again, only this time both sides. i now have 85,000 miles on the vehicle. this is just ridiculous. there should be a recall on this product. *tr

Suspension - ball joints had to be completely replaced. 2007 with 50,000 miles would not pass inspection. *tr

I have a 2007 dodge caliber with 42,000 miles that i was told was a death trap!! several times i had to exit highways because i felt i was going to lose control of my car. i thought i was in need of tires. not only was i in need of tires but the ball joints were completely worn. i was told by my mechanic in no way should this happen with a car with only 42,000. he also informed me he has seen many calibers with the same issue. the cost to replace the ball joints/arms and tires was $1,000. dodge needs to do something about this problem before someone is killed....issue a recall and refund to those who have had this problem! *tr

I have had on going steering vibration issues with my caliber since 15k miles and many times it has been determined that nothing is wrong and the vibration was a normal characteristic of the vehicle. most recently the tires began excessively wearing on the front (2 replacement sets in 6 months). extensive diagnostic found that the front lower ball joints were failing. it was determined that the ball joints had been quietly failing for about 30k-40k miles. my vehicle currently has 88k miles on it and the ball joints are being replaced. dealership admits that 1,200 replacement ball joints have been sold by dodge in the last week and the part number has changed 5 times since 2007. i feel that a manufacturer defect lead to this issued and i am one of the lucky ones that find this "quiet" failure before it leads to an accident. had it not been for the tires wearing i would have never know it as they did not become noisy like most ball joints. it should be noted that no signs of abuse or damage was found to the ball joints and the rubber boot was completely intact with no signs of leakage. further, the ball joints on this model are not serviceable and are self lubricated. the life expectancy for ball joints are at least 100,000 mile. chrysler customer service deemed this normal wear and tear but this is a serious issue that should be address before this 5-star rated vehicle seriously injures someone. this is not an issue with the servicing dealership, this is a chrysler issue that should be promptly addressed and corrected.

Front suspension. car is very noisy over the slightest bumps. jumps at times when hitting bigger bumps. had alignment done less than a month ago and is already back out of alignment again. car has only 35000 miles on it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. while driving approximately 5 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed. the contact exited the vehicle and noticed the front driver side wheel was detached from the vehicle. a police report was not filed and there were no injuries. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the ball joint detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was repaired. the contact also stated the same ball joint was replaced two months prior to the incident by the authorized dealer. the failure and current mileages were 43,000. updated 6/8/11 *cn the consumer stated two months later, the tie rods had to be replaced. updated 06/23/11*jb

I started to notice a noise coming from the back end of the car. we took the car to chrsyler/dodge dealer & was told that we have to replace the following:rear hubs, the right & left lower control arms & replace the tires. we had just brought new tires in november 2010 for the winter & now they have to be replace again.chrysler is putting my life, my husband & mother's life line on the line. why is it that when they had the may 2007 recall,this problem was not included and why are they getting away with murder by putting our lives in jeopardy. i thought i purchased a car that would kept me safe. the estimated cost they quoted us $1800.00. chrysler/dodge should be ashame of themselves. is profit more important to them than our lives. the car is worthless & can't afford to trade it in either. *tr

Vehicle was purchased new, and at 29k service dealer replaced tie rod end at our expense said to be out of warranty. 4 new tires were put on the car and an alignment could not be done because of excessive play in front end. car was brought back to dealer and it found that the lower ball joint was severely worn to the point where it was almost falling out of the car. this also was replaced at our cost.with 6 months gone by and 6000 miles we were told that the other tie rod was bad and the car was unsafe to drive but that they could not repair it at this time. we then called chrysler and they said the would work with the dealer but we would have to pay to get this fixed also. when we brought the car back to the dealer again they again found that the ball joint was bad also. this all comes after the car goes out of warranty and we have been complaining about the front end almost every time we bring it in for the oil change. it was stated by the service manager that the reason for this was the bad driving habits of the owner. and this was also the same reasoning behind all the other calibers with the same issue. when questioned why they did not find this earlier and why the fill out a special checklist that includes steering and suspension, it was stated that this inspection is only a visual inspection, and that if i had noticed that the report form point to the actual steering wheel not the steering components. *tr

2007 dodge caliber. consumer writes to express that he believes there is a serious design flaw in the vehicle. consumer states vehicle is not capable of aligned due to defective front ball joints *tgw the consumer was informed the ball joints were designed with a sealant with no capable means to lubricate them and repair was not possible. the replace them would cost $750. *jb

Ball joints are failing on these cars. this occurred around 50,000 and again at 100,000. i drive mostly highway miles therefore these should rarely go out. dodge did nothing to correct this and the cost of repair is over $1000. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the front suspension. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the control arm, outer tie rod ends and ball joints would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

I am very sad to report that my 2007 dodge caliber that i have had no trouble with ever, with 48,000 miles on it, the left lower ball joint is so bad that it needs to be fixed immediately. i didn't believe the dealer, so i brought it somewhere else. still going to cost $500 to fix one stupid little part that looks like a manufacture defect. *ln

Premature upper and lower ball joint failure. parts are plastic and cannot be maintained. wheels travel and very hard to control. almost created an accident when passing. car jumped to one side (pulled severely). this model needs to be recalled. check all the websites out there with complaints about this problem. some cars it is failing as early as 18,000 miles. *tr

I have a 2007 dodge caliber which i purchased new in feb 2006. it barely has 47,000 miles on it and yet had to have both front ball bearings and tie rods replaced. internet sites and nhtsa list volumes of complaints with vehicles with low mileage and the tie rods and ball bearing failures. does someone have to be killed before the company is forced to take corrective actions? this is not an inexpensive fix and is a disaster waiting to happen!!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair and it was discovered that the entire subframe was severely rusted. the vehicle was not repaired. the mechanic recommended the vehicle be driven only short distances due to a potential safety risk. in addition, the front passenger and driver side control arms were replaced on a separate occassion. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

My 2007 dodge caliber sxt having ball joint/tie rod/control arm failure at 64,000 miles. replacement of all parts would be $1000.00. vehicle is only 3 yrs old and have read numerous upon numerous complaints about this as a safety issue. *tr

Tl*the contacts owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that while driving over 28 mph there was a noise in the rear of the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the noise came from the rear hub bearing, because it was worn out. the dealer also stated that both the rear lower control arms were worn out as well which also caused the tires to wear because of the rear hub failure. the contact was told that the nhtsa campaign number 07v196000 (wheels: caps/cover/hub) was related and could cause unintended movement under certain conditions; however, the vin was not included. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 51,250.

I had to have the whole front end of the vehicle replaced at about 36,000 miles, tie rod ends, ball joints, and lower control arms. now only 1.5 years later (at 53,000 miles) one of the control arms is bad again. i'm not sure why all of these parts have such a high failure rate but from doing research on the internet and talking to other caliber owners this seems to be a very widespread problem that is happening at very low mileage. eventually somebody is going to get hurt driving one of these things when the steering goes out. i have talked to chrysler people about the problem but they of course don't want to admit any fault and instead imply that you may have caused the problem yourself due to your driving habits. *tr

I had my car in with another complaint, the tire pressure gauge was leaking. while they had it on the hoist, they told me the tires were wearing unevenly due to damage to the tie rods. i only have 36,000. miles on my car and it is a little over three years old. i am trying to get with their paying for at least part of the $700. repair and cost of new tires. *tr

The 2007 dodge caliber sxt is extremely hard on its suspension and steering components. i was told it is normal for the ball joints and tie rods to almost fall off after 50k miles. the warranty i purchased will not cover the cost of repairs because in their opinion it is normal wear and tear on the vehicle. i believe it is not normal for this problem to occur. looking at similar complaints online i think dodge should consider this a safety recall. *tr

I own a 2007 dodge caliber. while driving approximately 50 km, i heard a knocking noise coming from the front suspension. at the time i thought nothing of it because i hit some bumps in the road and thought it might of been my brakes, but later that week i had it in for an oil change and they looked at the front end for me and the technician stated that the control arm, outer tie rod ends and ball joints would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired because i could not afford to fix it on my own as i am a single mom and in school as a full time student. the vehicle only had 76000km. this is ridiculous for chrysler to be selling vehicles with these kind of parts ..every forum i have been on for the 2007 dodge calibers these are the main parts to be replaced. i even contacted the dealerships in the province of newfoundland and they told me, you would not believe the amount of replacements done for these parts. just as well if i had of bought a toyota, at least they owned up to there mistakes on the parts etc..chrysler is making a killing on sales of these parts...whatever you do, don't buy a dodge caliber......my lesson is well learned..first time i ever had a dodge and it is my last time..if the [xxx] thing don't kill me first..or is that what it will take for chrysler to wake up and do a recall on these parts. well i am giving some news reporter a call and broadcast this across the nation..see what happens then to chryslers image....disgusted....almost two 2000.00 plus it will cost me, not to mention the wear on my tires and there is more money....could of been an accident!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

3 year old 2007 dodge caliber. flat tire on highway, when new tires were purchased following morning tire tech. showed me why my tire had a huge hole worn on the side. right and left lower control arms so badly damaged they suggested i did not drive the vehicle until it was fixed. until flat tire not one issue with car. no vibration, pulling or anything to lead me to believe there was a major issue with my suspension. what a huge safety concern. dealer estimate repairs at over $1032.00 mostly highway miles driven, what a shame this has not been recalled. research online lead me to find 15 other similar complaints with same dodge vehicle. *tr

Had tie rod ends replaced by the dealer 4 months ago. now, 4 months later, the dealer is telling me that i need to have the steering gear, and lower control arms on both sides replaced. the car only has 65,000 miles. there should be no reason for the lower control arms or steering gear to be replaced at such low mileage. dealer said the car is unsafe to drive. same thing they said 4 months ago when the tie rods were replaced. why wasn't the control arm issue noticed when i had the tie rods replaced? i have seen numerous complaints that have to deal with the lower control arms. this is not some freak accident. it is an ongoing problem with no help from dodge/chrysler. if there are so many complaints, why is this issue not being looked into a little more carefully? if they want to stay in business much longer they should be dealing with this issue promptly. *tr

2007 dodge caliber sxt having ball joint/tie rod/control arm failure at 53,000 miles. replacement of all parts at 1000.00 expensive. vehicle is only 3 yrs old and have read numerous complaints about this as a safety issue. *tr

Ball joint failure at 50,000 miles. wore out tires . replaced ball joints and tires. *tr

I own a 2007 dodge caliber sxt. in early 2009 i was told by my dealership that the right lower balljoint needed to be replaced and that it was very dangerous to drive my vehicle. my car only had 45,000 miles on it. i took it elsewhere to be replaced. as of september 2010, the dealership advised me that the left lower balljoint now needed to be replaced as well as the front fea that contains the recently replaced rt ball joint. my car only has 77,000 miles on it. i took it to another mechanic which advised me that ball joints should not have to be replaced this early on. i then did research and found others with the same issue. there are no recalls and i think this is a defect that lies within dodge. they are putting people's safety at risk! *tr

2007 dodge caliber. ball joints and tie rods failing at 52,000 miles. very premature. the dealer said the vehicle was not safe to drive off the lot. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that while driving at low speeds over a road bump, the vehicle would exhibit a loud grinding noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised him that the front lower control arm needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Lower ball joints and control arms are defective on 2007 dodge calibers. *tr

Had to replace struts at 46,000 miles, then at 59,000 had to replace lower ball joint with control arms, was told no to drive car until it was fixed because it was very dangerous, the vehicle is a 2007 dodge caliber. also know of 3 others in small community that have same problem, with same car. also courtesy dodge in altoona pa, knows of problem with the calibers and are doing nothing about it. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact was traveling 30 mph when the vehicle began to exhibit and unusual vibrating noise from the vehicle interior. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the front lower control arms would need to be replaced. there were no prior warnings of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 41,000 and the failure mileage was 40,000. the control arm bushings were rotting away from the control arms. updated 04/15/11*jb

2007 dodge caliber purchased used a year ago. vehicle now has 38,000 miles and needs both right and left lower control arms. also have many brake problems with my 2008 dodge grand caravan (13,500 mi.) i try to support american companies but shame on me..never a dodge again! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. while having the vehicle serviced by an independent mechanic for unrelated issues the contact was informed that the front passenger side strut was destroyed and both front lower ball joints have excessive play. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 48,600.

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated while driving at 30 mph, there was an abnormal rattle coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the front passenger side ball joints and tie rod were replaced. the failure recurred but on the driver side. the contact was able to secure a future appointment with the dealer for further diagnostic testing. the manufacturer would not provide any assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 41,000 and the current mileage was approximately 41,200. updated 9/22/10 *cn the consumer stated the left front control arm and bushings were replaced. updated 09/24/10

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that she heard a banging noise when she drove over a bump in the road or when making a turn. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the front left control arm, front left strut, and both sway bars. the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who replaced the front right lower control arm bushing as it was hitting the frame. the contact called the manufacturer who paid for a portion of the repairs. the contact began hearing another noise and planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer. the current mileage was 63,432. the failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

I was leaving work and driving home on the highway when i started hearing a strange noise then began smelling burning rubber. i pulled off the highway and heard something fall from my car i got out and seen that my coil spring had broke and began digging into my tire. i mainly do highway driving so i don't hit to many bumps. i own a 2007 dodge caliber sxt which i purchased from a used car dealership in feb 2010 and the spring broke around june 15 2010. no one carries the parts besides the dealership and they told me that they are on back order for 2 weeks so i take it that this happens alot. *tr

Noticed rattling in front end when going over bumps. problem diagnosed during an oil change by a national company. the estimate included right control arm and ball joint. took car to local mechanic who i have dealt with for over 20 years. he stated the right ball joint needed replacing but control arms were fine. had right ball joint replaced. *tr

Well, i have a few complaints with my vehicle. i have had to replace the same control arm on the front drivers side twice(once at 55,000 and again at 80,000) and have only had the vehicle since 2009. i have complained to the dealership many times about my driver's seat belt coming undone while both hands are on the wheel driving. the service department at parkway told me i wasn't hooking it in correctly but being 26 years of age and always using a seat belt i wonder if i have been doing it wrong all along and if i was, wouldn't this problem happen every time i hooked the belt instead of at random? you would think they would want to fix the problem before they get sued from someone dying from it unhooking while in an accident. my latest problem is with the passenger side window, i was headed to a friends house with the windows half up and when i went to put the windows all the way up, it wouldn't go, it went down, and the passenger side button did not work either, needless to say, i had to park in the parking garage and tape my window when i got home to leave it parked in the street because i only have street parking. thank you dodge for making me with i would have stuck with gm. *tr

I bought a 2007 dodge caliber in april 08, it had 12,00 miles on it. it now has 70,000 miles. it is making a loud clicking noise in the front end. i can feel it in the steering wheel and on the floor board whenever i make a turn or go over a bump. i do not have a warranty, and the dealer wants 75.00 just to look at the car. also, while driving with my small child, my turn signals, high beam headlights, and wipers just stopped working. i have looked at hundreds of other complaints about these same issues, but i do not know of any recalls for these same issues. this is an extreme safety issue while driving. i am not sure how i will be able to pay for these problems with the car. wondering how dodge can get away with these same issues happening with thousands of calibers and them not be held liable to fix it at their cost? will never buy a dodge again! thank you, and i hope to see recalls very soon for these issues! *tr

No accident the tech told me that the caliber is notorious for having a horrible suspension system because the car is too heavy for the frame. replaced lower control arm bars, struts should have been replaced at 36,000 miles, replaced inner and outer tie rod ends, twice within 1/1/2 year, struts still bad. the vehicle is a accident waiting to happen. chrysler just keeps ignoring these issues. said they are going to extended the warranty only on the crossmembers, however that part directly relates to the3 lower control arm bars and i already replace. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/dodge_caliber.html. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal banging when driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to a repair facility where the contact was informed that the driver side ball joint was defective and would at some point, fail. the ball joint was replaced. the contact stated that the passenger side ball joint then failed january 11, 2011. the contact was able to secure an appointment to have the passenger side ball joint repaired. the manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was offered. the current mileage was 70,000 and the failure mileage was 50,000.

Was involved in a pd crash when a piece of tire tread appeared in my lane and i struck it causing my engine to have complete failure. when the car was at the dealership being repaired, shop personnel advised me that my front suspension (control arms, etc.) needed replacement. i had in may, 2010 (mileage approximately 87,000) noticed a looseness to the front end of the vehicle. when i go over rr tracks it sounds almost like a clunking or grinding in the front end. i know it's not my brakes as i have had them looked at. what is the problem with dodge? i have read numerous complaints on this website in regards to the suspension problem that i am also having. *tr

The first indication of the problem was as i was driving at higher speeds (above 50 mph). i noticed a definite shaking which i took to mean that the tires were not balanced properly. i had the vehicle checked and was told that the front ball joints, control arms and tie rods were worn out. i replaced these parts and the tires as they had begun to wear badly. i am now about to replace the same parts for the fourth time! there are also major problems with the rear suspension. i am replacing the rear control arms and lateral links for the third time! i drive a lot and at first put the problem down to the number of miles i drive. the vehicle is now at approximately 211,000 miles, but this is ridiculous! the last time the front suspension wore out, the right front wheel nearly fell off! the vehicle began to shake severely and as i was a mile or two to my destination, i slowed to a crawl and when i arrived i was nearly sick when i saw how bad it was. now the front and the rear are bad at the same time. help me out please! i'm at my wits end as i still owe someone money i had to borrow the last time i needed this fixed. i really don't want a car payment now as my wife lost her job recently.

I have a 2007 dodge caliber sxt that i have owned for just over 3 years. it has 38,000 km/23,612 miles on it. i took it in to the dodge dealership today to swap out my winter tires for my summer tires. when i picked it up, i was told by the mechanic that the lower ball joints on the front need to be replaced because they are worn. in fact, he told me that this is a very serious safety issue and i should get these replaced immediately. he then told me that the warranty had just expired and that the cost to replace these would be approximately $1000.00. he said that the clunking noise in the front end indicates that this is true. i do not hear any clunking noise and my vehicle runs and drives very smoothly. i have not pursued this matter with dodge yet as at the moment i am in shock. this vehicle is a highway driven vehicle and used very seldom in the city. the roads that i drive are paved and very well maintained. i drive the speed limit and in no way, shape, or form, abuse this vehicle. the vehicle is practically new given the very low mileage. i just wanted to document this problem in case there are other caliber owners out there who run into this problem. not only do i not have $1000 to replace the ball joints, i now have the stress of knowing that my vehicle is dangerously unsafe to drive. *tr

The ball joints and tie rods on 2006 to current dodge calibers. they have premature wear which the company knows about. i have researched for several days and have found hundreds of complaints on the ball joints and tie rods. they begin to fail with as little as 30,000 miles on the vehicle. i have not repaired my vehicle yet due to the $1000.00 it will cost only to fail again in two years. if one of the tie rods break steering will be lost resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. *tr

I own a 2007 dodge caliber sxt. recently took it in to be repaired because car was pulling severely to one side while driving and making bad grinding sounds. mechanic discovered the inner and outer tie rods and also the ball joints on both sides in the front of the vehicle were so deteriorated that he deemed the vehicle undriveable until repairs were made. in his official opinion they were the worst he had ever seen that did not result in the tires falling off. after doing research on the dodge caliber models i have seen that this is a common problem with that make and model of vehicle. what happens when your tires fall off at 65 mph on a highway? i do not want to be driving when that happens. no this problem has not led to a death yet, but do we really need to wait until it does before chrysler is forced to upgrade the parts on their vehicles? $1000 worth of parts and service on a 4 year old car is ridiculous and to know that because they chose to use low quality parts that could have resulted to my tires falling off at 65 mph is unsettling. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated that the steering wheel would pull to the right and left erroneously and was causing the tires to wear prematurely. the dealer was notified of the failure and attempted to repair the steering defect, but the failure recurred. a local mechanic replaced the lower arm control. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 29,000 and the current mileage was 90,000.

I have a 2007 dodge caliber sxt that i have owned for almost 2 years. i was told by a mechanic today that the ball joints on the front need to be replaced because they are dangerously defective and if they break while i am driving, they could cause a fatal accident. i was also told that ball joints should not be worn out on a car that is 2 years old and one with 41,000 miles on the odometer. he said that the ball joints were likely defective at the time of manufacture. the front tires can be freely moved and jiggled when the car is parked in the driveway with little effort. i have gotten no help from my local dodge dealer in replacing the defective ball joints and am forced to risk my life every time i drive the car until i can afford the repair which will cost between $500 and $1,200. because the parts were likely defective at the time of manufacture, i suspect that all other dodge calibers manufactured at the same time with the same parts have the same problem and the owners are simply unaware that their vehicles are dangerous to drive. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge caliber. the contact stated the tires were wearing prematurely. the tires were replaced at an independent tire facility twice within one year due to the failure. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the lower control arms were causing the failure and would need to be replaced. in addition, the dealer advised there was a failure within the lower ball joints. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 73,000.

At 132000 miles, i am replacing both control arms for the fourth time on my 2007 dodge caliber sxt 2.0l, no to mention the numerous cv boots and ball joints. with the numerous complaints i have seen online, it is surprising that no recall efforts (at least seemingly) have been made for such a dangerous and costly defect. i implore your company, please investigate the concerns and having chrysler-dodge fix their errors!!! even my mechanic informed me that the length of the arm is just short enough to create continual issues. this isn't right. as a result of so many repairs on this vehicle, i will never own a chrysler-dodge product again. thank you for your time and consideration. *tr