Dodge Caliber Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 491 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Dodge Caliber across 7 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (255). The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (18% of reports).
- 491suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 19%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ball joints: mentioned in 89 of 491 complaints (18%)
- Control arms: mentioned in 59 of 491 complaints (12%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 51 of 491 complaints (10%)
- Cross member: mentioned in 40 of 491 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Dodge Caliber at $1,500, and half of them between $740 and $1,700.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 382 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 491 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Dodge Caliber suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Caliber | 5 | 10% | 92,516 |
| 2011 Caliber | 30 | 18% | 93,500 |
| 2010 Caliber | 26 | 17% | 105,000 |
| 2009 Caliber | 61 | 26% | 85,251 |
| 2008 Caliber | 113 | 31% | 101,000 |
| 2007 Caliber | 255 | 29% | 75,016 |
| 2006 Caliber | 1 | 100% | 66,836 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists suspension for the Dodge Caliber. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was just at the dealer mechanic for an oil change and asked about a slight pull to one side when stopping. after doing the oil change he cam back with a list of things the most significant of which was a that the front sub-frame was rotted out, as well as the rear bumper metal under the plastic…
I was at a gas station and attempted to leave the lot and the cradle and/or attached parts broke into, rendering the car undrivable.
Severe rust to vehicle frame COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE, no accident. Rust has corroded frame despite normal use and normal care. Vehicle hasn't reached 75k miles yet, and the frame is failing. How is this not a recall?
My car is at 69739 miles and the control arms and the front and rear subframe is rotted out
This is a follow up to complaint #11459461 filed on 4/3/22 at 9:16:43am. I was not able to send documents at that time. Documents included relate to follow up on complaint #11591104. First pdf file: pages 1-4 Service bulletin from Chrysler - my model year not included; pages 5-7 service invoice and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Calibers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 491 owner complaints about suspension for the Dodge Caliber. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Caliber suspension?
No recall currently lists suspension for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Dodge Caliber?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $740 and $1,700), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Dodge Caliber?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 89 of 491 complaints, followed by “control arms” (59).
Other Dodge Caliber problems
- Electrical System problems (339)
- Structure problems (331)
- Power Train problems (220)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (187)
- Engine problems (175)
- Steering problems (172)
- Air Bags problems (159)
- Exterior Lighting problems (127)
See all Dodge Caliber problems.