Your vehicle report
2009 Dodge Caliber
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 232
- Received May 2009 to Mar 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through51 complaints · 22% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips17 complaints · 7.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3TPMS valve stems break or leak10 complaints · 4.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #08V528000Chrysler is recalling 712 my 2009 sebring, dodge caliber, avenger, journey, jeep patriot, and compass vehicles. A new adhesive used in the power train control module (PCM) manufacturing process can cause the printed circuit board to break.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 13 crashes, 2 fires, 11 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 16 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- TPMS valve stems break or leak
- Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps
- Tires blow out or tread separates
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 2 |
| Total | 232 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 51 | 22% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 17 | 7.3% | – | |
| TPMS valve stems break or leak | 10 | 4.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 8 | 3.5% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.6% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 6 | 2.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| CVT transmission fails or loses power | 3 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #08V528000October 9, 2008712 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Chrysler is recalling 712 my 2009 sebring, Dodge Caliber, avenger, journey, Jeep patriot, and compass vehicles. A new adhesive used in the power train control module (PCM) manufacturing process Can cause the printed circuit board to break.
This Can cause the engine to stall and cause a crash without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the PCM free of charge. The recall began on november 10, 2008. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2009 Dodge Caliber.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN