YearToAvoid

2008 Dodge Caliber Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#2 most-complained of 7 Caliber years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Dodge Caliber has 360 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 83 out of 100 — #2 highest of 7 Caliber model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is suspension, wheels & tires (132 complaints, 37% of the total). Complaints report 21 crashes, 4 fires, 14 injuries, and 2 deaths.

Complaints
360
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
21 / 4
Injuries / deaths
14 / 2
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
23 city / 27 hwy

Top 2008 Dodge Caliber problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires132 (37%)
  2. Structure & Body89 (25%)
  3. Engine78 (22%)
  4. Electrical System67 (19%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain37 (10%)
  6. Steering35 (10%)
  7. Other31 (9%)
  8. Brakes29 (8%)
  9. Airbags22 (6%)
  10. Fuel System14 (4%)
2008 Dodge Caliber complaints: complaints filed per quarter302007 Q42009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42019 Q42022 Q2
545 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2023 Q3; peak 2015 Q2 (30).

2008 Dodge Caliber recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Dodge Caliber fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Caliber years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006No verdict010—
2007Avoid100884424
2008Avoid83360024
2009Caution67232124
2010Caution50157225

All Dodge Caliber years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Dodge Caliber a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Dodge Caliber ranks #2 of 7 among Caliber model years (Complaint Index 83/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 360 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Caliber?
The most reported problem areas are suspension, wheels & tires (132 complaints), structure & body (89 complaints), and engine (78 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 85,500 miles.
Does the 2008 Dodge Caliber have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Dodge Caliber in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Dodge Caliber?
EPA rates the 2008 Dodge Caliber at 24 MPG combined (23 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.