Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Dodge Caliber owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the ECU had been hacked. While driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the brakes applied without application, but I was able to move to the right lane. The vehicle was able to pull over safely, and it stalled. While parking with the foot on the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a small pole. There was no reported fire, airbag deployment, police report filed, or injuries. While in neutral, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The driver was able to shift to neutral. The vehicle was making an abnormal growling sound. There was no light inside. While using the headlights, the windshield wipers turned on for five minutes. After locking the vehicle, the headlights remain on. While using the turn signal, the windshield wipers engaged without application. While driving in the rain, the vehicle hydroplaned. …
I had my 2007 Dodge Caliber rear brakes replaced today, at 83,487 miles. The service professional noted on the receipt that the "rear subframe is rotting out." He suggested that I contact Dodge, to find out if there has been a recall regarding this issue. Please advise as to how this problem may be resolved, with no additional, out-of-pocket cost to me, the consumer. Thank you.
I had an accident on Friday, January 18, 2015. The car in front of me put on brakes, and I was a distance away from the car in front of me when I put on brakes as well. However, when I attempted to brake, it would not brake normally as a car should. Also, there was no anti-lock brake that kicked in. In addition, the airbags did not deploy in this vehicle. My car is totaled. Thankfully, I was able to walk away. There is something wrong with the brakes on this vehicle. I always felt like that. However, the experience that I had with this accident was confirmation for me.
My wife was driving to work on the garden state parkway(nj) about 9:15 a.m. On jan 12, 2007, the car began to pull to the right and she tapped the brake, and attempted to correct the problem . At this point the car began swerving and she lost control of the vehicle. The car rolled over twice and came to a stop upside down. She was able to crawl out of the vehicle. I recently recieved a vehicle report from the insurance co. That stated the car is being recalled (NHTSA id: 06V493000)and said vehicle is subject to a failure of the ABS computer software that May cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions and cause a crash without warning!!!!! While my wife was extremely lucky not to have been killed as a result of this malfunction, she is quite distraught over the incident and would like to know what steps to take at this juncture. …
My daughter bought a used 2007 Dodge Caliber with 83,493 miles on it in 2016. In 2018 the car became very unstable and found the cross structure in the rear was so corroded and rusted it cracked in half. She, I, and others could have been killed. And I see now 100's of others that has the same problem. What do we do about this? Eat $5,000.00 ? This needs to be taken care of.. She was driving and I was with her at night and raining, on the freeway when it started to shake so bad I thought it was going to fall apart. We creeped it home and friends looked underneath and said omg.. So again,, how do we replace this? And what is being done? There were no notifications on this at all period. I don't care if it was 1 car. This needs to be recalled.. It could be a family with children, a head on crash, who knows.. It's dangerous.. Mad mother.. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving at very low speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the ABS would erroneously activate causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact also indicated that the check engine sensor light illuminated. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failures. In addition, the contact experienced various electrical failures. The driver side window would open, but would not roll up to close allowing rain to enter into the vehicle. Also, the front passenger side headlight would not operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the electrical failures. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000. Updated 12/30/14 the consumer was involved in accident and the vehicle was totaled. Updated 01/27/15
Tl contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle began to pull to the left when the contact depressed the brake pedal. She attempted to correct the failure, but lost control of the vehicle and it began to swerve. The vehicle rolled over six times. Three passengers sustained cuts and bruises and the driver was airlifted to the hospital due to back injuries. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was under recall # 06V493000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module). A police report was filed. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 8,000. Updated 09/26/07.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. While driving 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the anti skid and ABS warning lights illuminated without warning. All of the instrument panel lights also illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear ends of the vehicle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who approved the repairs performed by another dealer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 02/12/16
Tl contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caliber. When the brakes were applied, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard and became stuck. When the pedal failed to release it caused the vehicle to crash into a another vehicle. There were no injuries; however, a police report was filed. The contact called an authorized dealer and stated that there were no recalls for his VIN. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they could not duplicate the failure. The failure occurred twice. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000. The current mileage was approximately 80,000.
I was sitting at a stop sign when my ABS and engine light started flashing and this annoying dinging started I made a left turn and my tires would be out of control making me think I was having a steering problem ,just parking would be a problem and this annoying sound would stay on until u park the car this was done on a highway I was told by a Dodge dealership that it was my ABS module and that it needed to be replaced so I check for a recall and find out there are recalls for the same make model and year on a lot of other cars but not my VIN#.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain vehicles, the antilock brake system (ABS) control module software May cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ABS electronic control unit. The recall began on February 19, 2007. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Brake complaints in other Caliber years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2007 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the brakes of the 2007 Dodge Caliber, 5% of the model year's 958 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Dodge Caliber brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-493 (control unit/module, Dec 29, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Dodge Caliber brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.