NHTSA Complaint #10273280 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

2007 DODGE CALIBER SE (AND OTHER MODELS) MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ITS SUSPENSION OR ALIGNMENT THAT CAUSES TIRE "CUPPING" WHICH CAN RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE OR LOSS OF CONTROL. TIRE CUPPING ON MY CALIBER BEGAN PRIOR TO 20,000 MILES. OTHER REPORTS I'VE SEEN ONLINE BEGAN MUCH EARLIER - SOME WITH SLIGHTLY MORE MILEAGE. MY VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED PROPERLY AND ROTATED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION. MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION ON THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS "FINE" BUT THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WERE DUNLOP 205/70 R15S, WHICH CAME FROM THE FACTORY. OTHERS I'VE TALKED TO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TIRES AND OTHER BRANDS FROM THE FACTORY AND IN THE AFTERMARKET. THE COST TO REPLACE TIRES IS $300 MINIMUM, WHICH IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT A BIGGER CONCERN OF MINE IS POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE OR LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET ROADS DUE TO THE IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL DODGE CALIBER FORUMS ONLINE THAT DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM. FOR MONTHS THE SITES CLAIM DODGE/CHRYSLER WILL ISSUE A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE, BUT SO FAR THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. *TR