NHTSA Complaint #11230468 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

WHILE DRIVING MY SON HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE (SQUEAKING AND CLUNKING) WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR BY THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. UPON INVESTIGATING WHEN WE GRABBED THE STABILIZER ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT HAD SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT. WE GRABBED THE LEFT SIDE FOR COMPARISON AND IT DID NOT MOVE. WE FOLLOWED THE STABILIZER BAR AND FOUND THAT THE POINT WHERE THE BUSHING ATTACHES TO THE SUBFRAME HAD CRACKED OFF. WHILE LOOKING AT THE SUBFRAME CLOSER IT HAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION/RUST (A LOT MORE THAN A VEHICLE WITH 120K MILES SHOULD HAVE). WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE WILLING TO "WARRANTY" (EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD) THE FRONT AND BACK SUBFRAME HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY PARTS THAT ATTACHED TO THE SUBFRAME. WE WERE TOLD THAT IF ANY BOLTS/PARTS THAT BROKE WERE OUR RESPONSIBILITY WHICH COULD COST UP TO $2000 WHICH IS HALF THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO WITH CHRYSLER COVERING THE SUBFRAME PIECES AND LABOR (ESTIMATED $1000) TECHNICALLY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED (COMBINED TOTAL REPAIR COSTS $3000 ON A CAR WORTH $4000)....AND NOW AN 18 YEAR OLD KID NO LONGER HAS A CAR. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND SHOULD HAVE EASILY GONE ANOTHER 80K MILES AT A MINIMUM. SUCH A SHAME TO SCRAP/PART OUT A VEHICLE AT 120K MILES FOR A MANUFACTURING/QUALITY DEFICIENCY.