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 to the point where it needs to be replaced before vehicle becomes unsafe as it has for others. Vehicle barely has 72,000 miles on it and was garaged for the first 12 years of its life. Image of repaired front subframe assembly included for posterity.
2009 Dodge Caliber suspension problems
61 complaints (26% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 89,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 61
- of this car's complaints
- 26%
- typical mileage
- 89,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Subframe/mounting bracket1
- Front: stabilizer bar1
- Front: macpherson strut1
- Front: control arm: lower arm1
- Front1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Dodge Caliber suspension problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Dodge Caliber suspension
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2009 Dodge Caliber owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Rear subframe rotted in half, causing rear driver side tire to sit sideways and loss of rear end
I was driving down to road and the the k member (subframe) rusted all the way through
Hearing noise on drivers side. Took to garage for inspection and H Frame, sub frame, is rusting out and needs to be replaced. Motor and A Arms mount to this frame. Find out this is a common problem and no recall or help from Chrysler. This is a huge safety issue! Only have 68,000 on vehicle.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that upon taking her vehicle to an independent mechanic for a state inspection, she was informed that the rear subframe was severely corroded. The contact was informed that the corrosion had caused a significant hole to form on the rear subframe which could cause a severe failure while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that she would receive a callback. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 64,049.
The front sub frame rusted out and almost killed everyone in the car the wheels turned out and lost all steering was really scary is there any way we can get this fixed by dodge this should be a recall I’ve looked at 6 calibers and all of them are rusted out
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while coming to a stop, there was a loud banging sound heard. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger’s side wheel had detached due to a fractured lower control arm. The contact indicated that the failure was caused by severe rusting and corrosion of the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
2009 Dodge Caliper developed a split sub-frame suspension component due to heavy rust and the rear sub-frame has developed a severe rust and is also in danger of failure. This vehicle has less than 62,000 miles and is currently not operable. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle was being driven at the time of failure and had to be towed to a nearby repair shop. Contacted dealer service manager who stated that vehicle has no recalls or extended warranty’s. This incident occurred without any warnings. Please advise!
During an inspection by my dealer it was noted that the front subframe was rusted through. The car was taken to a different repair shop where it was determined that the rear subframe was also rusted through. It was determined that this was an ongoing issue that the dealership failed to note during previous inspections. Allowing the failure to be pushed out past the time of an extended warranty repair. The corroded subframes allowed more flexure in the sub frames add stress to the bushings and support structures causes the repair cost to multiply. These component failures could lead to a catastrophic failure of the car while driving and should be corrected by the manufacturer.
Speed sensors, inner/outer tie rods, hub assembly, radiator, intake valve, tires were different sizes, more problems arose.
Questions about the 2009 Dodge Caliber suspension
Does the 2009 Dodge Caliber have suspension problems?
Owners have filed 61 complaints about the suspension of the 2009 Dodge Caliber, 26% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Caliber suspension problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 89,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Dodge Caliber suspension?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Dodge Caliber have bad suspension?
The Dodge Caliber model years with the most suspension complaints are 2007 (255 complaints), 2008 (113 complaints) and 2009 (61 complaints).
Other 2009 Dodge Caliber problems
Transmission 64Body 49Engine 30Electrical 23Steering 16Fuel system 11Wheels 11Acceleration 10Tires 10Brakes 9Airbags 7Driver assistance 5Lights 5Seat belts 5Locks 2Seats 2Visibility 2
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2009 Dodge Caliber?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history