2009 Dodge Caliber
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 73 of 232 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 377 in 2008 to 232 in 2009.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2009 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,850 | 2,400–2,850 | 2,300–3,500 | 2,400–2,700 | 2,300–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–26 | 22–26 | 22–27 | 23–26 | 24–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–24 / 24–29 | 19–24 / 24–29 | 19–24 / 25–30 | 21–23 / 25–31 | 22–24 / 27–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342–404 | 342–404 | 329–404 | 342–386 | 329–370 | |
| Complaints filed | 958 | 377 | 232 | 157 | 165 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 57 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 18 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 40 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 9 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2009 Dodge Caliber have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2009 Dodge Caliber?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 73 of 232 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Dodge Caliber get?
EPA rates it 22–27 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Dodge Caliber?
EPA estimates $2,300–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,300 (low) | 329 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 23 mpg | 27 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 21 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 386 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 19 mpg (low) | 27 mpg | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 404 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 64 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 73 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 12 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · Campaign 08V528000 · Oct 9, 2008
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.