2007 Dodge Caliber SE 2.0

Summary:

A Typical Compliance Appliance in regular SE, SXT trims

Faults:

Just the windshield washer pump needed replaced. Other than that, no other repairs needed; it's a solid built one.

General Comments:

The CVT transmission could be more responsive to even part throttle application.

The interior materials are subpar plastics. The seat fabric is very coarse type of cloth, but not too many vehicles offer velour upholstery these days.

I do like the simplicity of the SE (BASE) trim for crank windows, no electronic keys hence a good ole fashioned mechanical ignition key.

The car itself is stylish, but the SRT-4 version would make it a very enjoyable ride, but that version was only available on 2008-2009 model Calibers.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 31st August, 2020

6th Sep 2020, 03:25

You commented about the CVT. Given that, how is the acceleration - especially at wide open throttle?

Our daughter has 2014 Jeep Compass, the same platform with the same powertrain, and it always seems to be meeting every request for more speed (no matter how small) with an over large surge in RPM - and not much change in forward thrust. Mind you, this is a Front Wheel Drive Jeep, oddly enough. Wide-open-throttle acceleration (which you resort to more often that you would think) is tepid at best.

The good news is that the CVT has not failed :)

2008 Dodge Caliber SXT 2.0

Summary:

Total piece of junk from day one

Faults:

These cars have severe suspension issues. The complete suspension was changed 4 times in this car in the 5 years of ownership.

This included:

Front and rear struts (these were only changed once surprisingly).

Front sway arms (also changed only once).

Now the real junk part of the suspension:

Front and rear control arms with fixed ball joint (stupid design on its own!) 4 control arms on this car

Rear toe links x 2.

These two suspension parts have been changed on the car 4 times in the 5 years of ownership, at a cost of $2000 each time!

Throttle body sensor craps out (lightning bolt light on instrument cluster illuminates) causing the vehicle to misfire when it starts, or sometimes not start at all.

A noise under the hood that I could tell was a bearing noise; mechanic diagnosed as the tensioner pulley and a couple others which were changed and turned out to not be the problem. Taken to another mechanic who diagnosed the noise as the alternator pulley bearing. Where the alternator is located is a big job and it’s worth just replacing the entire alternator at a cost of $400 for the part alone.

This car was a money pit from day one, until just before Christmas when we were hit by a big truck, and the car was written off. Where many people get out of their vehicles to scream at the person who hit them, I got out and shook the guys hand. I felt like I owed him a beer for the favour he did us.

Never buy a Dodge again.

FYI my niece bought the same car a bit over a year ago, a 2010 model, and she’s beginning to have all the same problems with her car. Entire suspension has just been changed, and the throttle body sensor issue is starting to surface. I told her to start saving for the next repair.

General Comments:

This car, and many other Dodge models suffer major suspension issues.

Stay away, you’ve been warned!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th April, 2019

19th Apr 2019, 03:37

$400 for an alternator that is available online from numerous sites starting at $125? Four control arm replacements in five years?

Sounds more like you have been taken advantage of by dishonest and/or incompetent mechanics, and your own inability to recognize this...

17th May 2019, 03:09

I believe the comment about the suspension and the control arms; my Magnum was almost as bad