Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have had a problem with anti-lock brakes. I could not control my vehicle; my steering wheel was shaking, front wheel felt like it was buckling and I could not control my vehicle; almost got into an accident. I have brought this to the attention of the dealer and he told me thats the way the brakes are; terrible he said. This was done when it snowed. I do not like anti-lock brakes because of that reason; I drove a Chevy malibu and when I applied the brake pedal, it didn't do what my car did. Any suggestions would be helpful. I just won't be able to drive in the snow, that sucks!!!!! When I'm driving on the highway I hear a moaning underneath the vehicle, the dealer didn't hear anything; probable didn't take it out for a ride.
Starting January 2019, I had spent $5K of underbody replacement: bent/rusty axle-f, 2 f-tires; front brakes & shocks, rear rotors, brakes & shocks, front & rear arms. The rear right wheel was locked & I was driving that way with both of my young grandchildren 3 months after I had tires replaced. I kept being told by a friend & my son, 'have you had your car fixed yet?' the suspension sucked; I felt every bump & pothole! The noise in the front to right took over a year to fix.
I've had the arm bar and ball joint replaced twice in a year's time, which causes a grinding noise. I've had the brakes replaced three times along with rattle clips, in the last year, with no prevail in changing the noise nor high speed-braking oscillating. A caliper has also been replaced. While sitting at stop lights, the car unpredictably stalls-- I've tried to reproduce the setting to have the issue happen when a technician tests it, but it appears to happen unpredictably. The car has leaked from some entry point to cause the floor boards to be wet, and in the last year, the sun roof seems to be leaking as I have water pouring onto me from the front dome lightt. The water is causing mold, which is not beneficial to the family I drive with. …
The car was in park on a hill, when I turned off the engine, it rolled down the steep hill and the brakes or emergency brake would not work. I crashed through a fence across the street and into a building. The car was totaled.
The engine stalls when I take off more times than none I'm stuck idling in traffic almost causing accident the frame that hold motor mounts are bad I've replaced motor mounts twice in a less than a year the car heats up after 70 miles an hour I have 5o pull over and let it cool off this happens 3 to 4 times a week with the engine stalling and overheating didn't find out til after I leased the car from AtoZ auto on gen McMullen and it's financed through car financial services I believe they knew the car was damaged I got scammed and have to pay 425 dollars a month on a car that can't be fixed I've spent a lot trying to fix the car
The front calipers will not engage when brake pedal is pressed. The brake pedal sinks to the floor and has no stopping power. The master cylinder was replaced and calipers are new replacements. After replacing these parts it now smell of burnt brake fluid but there is no leak and the problem seems to worsen. The first time I was doing 45-50 on a county rd when a another car pulled out 20 feet away and I was trying to slow down when I lost the front brakes as pished in on the pushed in on the brakes the pedal sank and they didn't engage. I then bought the new calipers and it was fine for about a month. The second time I was stuck in traffic on a busy city street when the ABS brakes failed resulting in me running a red light and almost getting hit. It has corroded and took hunks off aluminum from my front driver rim. …
I was turning onto a state highway when my brakes made the most awful grinding noise and my ABS brake light came one. I immediately took my vehicle to the mechanic. I was told by my mechanic my brakes were bad and rotors needed to be replace and there was a sensor that had to be ordered before I could use the car after it was repaired. It had 11,000 miles!! I doubt my brakes were even bad at that point I think it was just a sensor after all. (after it cost me $480.00 plus I had to rent a car for 3 days. My transmission kept surging at the stop lights from the day I got it at 1,471 miles. So it was probably bad from day one. I should have taken it right back to where I bought it, at least it would have been under warranty. I had my transmission replaced at 30,000 miles at a cost of $6,000.
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. …
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caliber years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (45), 2008 (23), 2009 (9) and 2011 (6) model years. Brake complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Dodge Caliber brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 06V-493 (control unit/module, Dec 29, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Caliber brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles; 49% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (5 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (2).
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.