Dodge Caliber?

[buck91]

Looking at a 2007 Caliber for my college age daughter but I just don't know much about these. The price is OK but the miles are so-so at 155k (in the ball park of anything else in her price range). ANy major issues or common things to watch out for on these?

 

[simple_gifts]

Chris142 will be along shortly to recommending running.....

Probably best to start looking @ vehicles known to be reliable, especially if she will be outside a your diameter of reasonable response.

 

[Chris142]

I really don't know much about the caliber. It's the bmws,jags and MB that I hate.

 

[Fifth87]

Subframes, both front and rear for corrosion. These were a known item that FCA extended the warranty on past the 3/36.
Check the leading edge of the hood, door seams and rockers for rust.
I found the ball joints to be short lived on mine at 40K miles.
Water leaks, especially if it has a sunroof, but water can get into the cabin in the rear as well. Dodge has a TSB out on this.
I am wary of the CVT that it has, but I have no personal experience with failures reported.
The 2.0 seems to be an alright engine, but my example has only 58K on it. Cooling system if not maintained can cause loss of heat which can require heater core replacement due to loss of heat.
Overall I am not real impressed with mine and I have owned it since 3yrs/21K miles.

 

[The_Jeff]

Describe "ok". That's a $1500 car.

 

[Nick1994]

Yuck.

An old Camry is a perfect car for her if you don't want to be working on it all the time. Just change the oil and drive.

 

[walterjay]

A member of my family has one. Has transmission problems. Get a used Toyota

 

[Balrog006]

Sister has a 2010 version, engine and trans seem to be doing well at 60K+-got it used around ~25K. No real expensive issues thus far, had a ball joint go on her and the HVAC fan switch is iffy other than high and low but neither have been expensive or difficult fixes... no body or frame rust to speak of @8 years old despite being in Michigan.

Maintenance and repairs seem to be inexpensive and easy done or easily trusted to a shop-just about any place can do work on them.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Describe "ok". That's a $1500 car.


Looks like they want $2500 for it on CL.

 

[14Accent]

Pass. Hard pass. Fast pass. Any pass.

Just don't buy it.

 

[TinyVoices]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Describe "ok". That's a $1500 car.


Looks like they want $2500 for it on CL.



Forget that. Get a camry. Don't fall for the allure of a newer car just to have it be junk. A slightly older camry will be a much better choice.

 

[tomcat27]

It depends how far away your daughter is, and if you plan to fix the car yourself. Any car with 155k miles is suspect. the CVT is a Jatco. I would doubt its reliability at this point, and replacement will be very expensive. 2-3k if you do it your self. 5-7 if you pay someone.
I've gotta agree that a 2000-ish camry will be about the same price (2500) and will likely be more reliable. of course, they all need maintenance. our camry of that vintage has only needed a normal timing belt/water pump in the three years we have had it. (it was original). ok, it also needed a radiator, condensor, and radiator support; but that was collision and not maintenance.

 

[Imp4]

So there's actually a Guinness world record for the longest walk on Lego's.

Owning this car should be just about exactly like that Lego walk.

Instead of buying a Dodge Caliber, just watch the video, cringe at his personal pain, and be glad you are not experiencing the same by means of poor car purchasing decisions.

You'll thank me later!

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Get her the least rusty car you can get for $3000 that runs and drives and can pass inspection

 

[doitmyself]

2007 was the first model year and it's "problems list" is very long. Don't buy it.

 

[dogememe]

A coworker has one and it seems to have treated him well though he is having some transmission problems it still drives.

 

[buck91]

Wow. No love lost on here for the caliber! Is this justified? By my memory I can’t recall being led astray on this site before, although I don’t always agree 100%. In any case unless we get some good retorts then this caliber model doesn’t sound like a good option!

 

[RooflessVW]

You'd be better off with a 1.8t Jetta.

 

[doitmyself]

Buck, I own a 2014 Jeep Patriot, which is a Caliber in faux Jeep clothing. Many quality control changes were made in 2011, 2 years after Fiat took over. More changes were made in the following years, and the change to the Hyundai 6 speed automatic transmission in 2013 was a huge improvement. I have a MOPAR professional mechanic friend that I consulted prior to buying mine and he had a whole list of improvements made after 201l. PM me if you want more detailed information, but you will forever be putting money into that 2007 model. FCA even made some small improvements to the solid (but unrefined) Dundee made GEMA engine after Chrysler parted ways with the joint venture.

 

[14Accent]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Buck, I own a 2014 Jeep Patriot, which is a Caliber in faux Jeep clothing. Many quality control changes were made in 2011, 2 years after Fiat took over. More changes were made in the following years, and the change to the Hyundai 6 speed automatic transmission in 2013 was a huge improvement. I have a MOPAR professional mechanic friend that I consulted prior to buying mine and he had a whole list of improvements made after 201l. PM me if you want more detailed information, but you will forever be putting money into that 2007 model. FCA even made some small improvements to the solid (but unrefined) Dundee made GEMA engine after Chrysler parted ways with the joint venture.


He isn't wrong. The newer ones are MUCH better put together, and the Hyundai transmission is very solid.

The early ones have HORRIBLE suspension problems, alternator problems, AC compressor problems, HVAC problems, TIPM problems, the list goes on.

Remember, Chrysler was insolvent in '07, and the quality shows. The good parts suppliers wouldn't extended them credit for parts, so the cheaper suppliers did. Take, for example, the lower control arm on a Caliber. The OEM piece looks and feels awful compared to even a Mooh "RK" series piece. I say this with absolute distaste for RK series Moog parts (which are, inherently, cheap).

That, and the fact that they're pretty awful to drive and you could get a WAY better value for whatever money they're asking for the Caliber.