2009 Dodge Caliber

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

66/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Caliber, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	37	16%
Structure	32	14%
Suspension	30	13%
Unknown or other	13	6%
Suspension	10	4%
Engine	6	3%
Air bags	5	2%
Seat belts	5	2%
Tires	5	2%
Suspension	4	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Under paneling under all doors and under car rusting out completely. Falling pieces fly away anytime.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

My car will not shift. It’s saying that the part that was fixed under the recall is bad. What do I do now?
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

Check frame - known rot concerns Hole has started to open up center rear of engine subframe on the weld line. Subframe doesn’t appear to be in immediate failure, but will not pass inspection. Called dealer and was told
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

My spouse and I owned this vehicle from day one. Front subframe assembly was rotting and was replaced by manufacturer under a recall but rear subframe assembly was not included. The rear subframe assembly is now rotted t
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Rear subframe rotted in half, causing rear driver side tire to sit sideways and loss of rear end
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Rotting/rusting subframe. Not listed as a recall for this model year, but was for the previous years.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

The transmission doesn't shift so if I am on the interstate doing 65 to 70 miles per hr.the transmission fluid heats up .Dodges answer to this is slow down or pull off interstate @ wait till it cools down then continue o
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

● Component failed: Front and Rear Subframe. ● Safety at risk: Rotting Subframe. The front subframe had a recall which expired a couple years ago, which I was never notified about. I have replaced this part because it
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Dodge Caliber. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) 08V528000

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.

Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	68	good
Longevity est.	71	good
Maintenance	81	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	43	below average
Efficiency	49	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 17% of wagons
Longevity: better than 16% of wagons
Running costs: better than 56% of wagons
Value retention: better than 57% of wagons

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 68: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 71: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2009 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 81: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2009 Dodge Caliber?

Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 37 of them (16%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2009 Dodge Caliber reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2009 Dodge Caliber last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2009 Dodge Caliber?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.