2008 Dodge Caliber Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

43Engine complaints

11.9%Of all 360 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION106 · 29.4%

STRUCTURE:BODY58 · 16.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM56 · 15.6%

ENGINE43 · 11.9%

POWER TRAIN36 · 10%

Share of the 360 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Dodge Caliber overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 10554437 — filed 12/02/2013

“VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC, 2.0L ENGINE. WHILE AT A STOP, IN ANY GEAR, FOOT ON OR OFF THE BRAKE, MY CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY, RPMS…”NHTSA complaint 10548762 — filed 10/21/2013

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE 2008 DODGE CALIBER LOSS POWER AND BEGAN TO DECREASE SPEED. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR DID…”NHTSA complaint 10514547 — filed 05/31/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Dodge Caliber have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Dodge Caliber: 43 of 360 complaints on file (11.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Dodge Caliber have in total?

360 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.