NHTSA Complaint #10374640 — 2008 DODGE CALIBER

2008 DODGE CALIBER - CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR $700 IN REPAIRS. THEY STATE THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY AND SUDDENLY BOGG DOWN UPON NORMAL ACCELERATION--VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC-- AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE EITHER MOMENTARILY OR FLASH. IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS REVEALED MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. DODGE TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CLAIMING IT NOT TO BE A COVERED PART OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WHEN QUESTIONED, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT WHEN CARBON BEGINS TO FORM THAT "APPARENTLY THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT CARBS UP". I ASKED, "DO YOU MEAN NORMAL CARBON FORMATION THAT HAPPENS IN ALL ENGINES." THE RESPONSE WAS, YES AND THAT THEY RECOMMEND A "CARB CLEANOUT" EVERY 30,000 MILES (MINE IS AT 53,000). I THEN ASKED (KNOWING THE ANSWER) IF THAT WAS MAINTENANCE THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH OTHER MAINTENANCE IN THE MANUAL. OF COURSE, THE REPLY WAS "NO". THIS FAILURE, WHEN IT HAPPENS, PRESENTS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT ONLY HAD TO PUT ME IN A BAD PREDICAMENT ONCE BEFORE I HEADED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MERE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THIS EXCESSIVE CARBON PROBLEM MAKES ME FEEL THAT THEY DO, INDEED, HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE READ COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. ONE UNFORTUNATE MAN WAS HIT BY A GASOLINE TRUCK WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT MORE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW TO COME HERE AND FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT RATHER THAN POSTING ON BLOGS TO TRY TO HELP OTHERS. I IMPLORE WHOMEVER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR