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Dodge Caliber Safety & Crash Test Results

20 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2006 at 1:45 PM

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#11 of 20 Re: Safety ranking of Caliber [azrdrunner] by vrm Jul 28, 2006 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:15 pm) Wow! If this true, this is MAJOR fraud.   Under the Whistleblower Act (for private sector), you can become very rich. If you have the documentation, i suggest you contact a competent attorney.
#12 of 20 Just went to the NHTSA website! by luvmbooty Aug 05, 2006 (8:48 pm)
The 2007 Dodge Caliber received 5 stars all around! Now I want this vehicle!
#13 of 20 www.iihs.org releases Caliber test data on 8-7-06 by micweb Aug 07, 2006 (10:18 am)
The Caliber got "good" scores on each measurement category for the front offset test.   The Caliber got "good" scores on every category for the side impact test except one, the driver torso - they were downgraded on the driver torso for potential rib fractures - but the head and every other side impact scores were "good." Dodge seems to think when side torso airbags become available as an option, the Caliber will ace the side impact test.   As a consumer, I am really heartened that the Caliber has a solid body structure and that side CURTAIN airbags, which are the ones needed to prevent fatalities, are standard.   I am surprised that the rear seat passenger got "good" marks on the torso injury portion of the measurements (although the driver didn't). This indicates it is possible to pass the torso portion of the test without side torso airbags; maybe Dodge will change some of the design of the door trim (like Chevy did with its Cobalt) and get better marks on the side crash. At least I know my kids won't need side torso bags in the rear to be safe.   So right now it looks like the Caliber, Honda's Civic and the VW's Rabbit/Jetta are the safest cars out there in this size category, based on the combination of good crash tests with side curtain airbags, and the fact that side curtain airbags are all standard on these cars. The Corolla and Cobalt also test well, but the side curtain airbags are an option that is difficult to find on cars on the lots.   Kudos to Dodge for making side curtain airbags standard! You might find a stripper without aircon, but you'll never find a stripper without side safety....   (And shame on Ford for introducing its popular midsized Fusion without side curtain airbags...they got horrible test results in the IIHS test.) Replies to this message: prosa (Aug 07, 2006 10:44 am) vrm (Aug 09, 2006 7:39 pm)
#14 of 20 Re: www.iihs.org releases Caliber test data on 8-7-06 [micweb] by prosa Aug 07, 2006 (10:44 am)
Replying to: micweb (Aug 07, 2006 10:18 am) I have to disagree. For a newly designed vehicle, getting anything short of "good" on the side impact test has to be viewed as a failure. Especially a next-to-lowest "marginal." It's not as if the Caliber uses a platform that had been developed before the introduction of stringent IIHS safety testing. Honda and Volkswagen were able to design their new vehicles in a way that enabled them to get "good" scores. Speaking of Ford, they're probably not pleased that the Zephyr scored "acceptable" rather than "good" in both the front and side tests. At that price level buyers should demand nothing but the best ... though when it comes to safety, buyers of less-expensive vehicles shouldn't have to compromise either.
#15 of 20 Re: www.iihs.org releases Caliber test data on 8-7-06 [micweb] by vrm Aug 09, 2006 (7:39 pm)
Replying to: micweb (Aug 07, 2006 10:18 am) The Caliber got "good" scores on each measurement category for the front offset test.     Mic: How do we know if the Caliber tested by IIHS is the same model in the dealerships?   In other words, did Chrysler send an artificially reinforced model for the sole purpose of acing the IIHS test?   This was mentioned in a earlier post. The author claimed to work in the automobile industry. I dont trust Chrysler. They are capable of doing this.
#16 of 20 IIHS testing by antithesis Aug 10, 2006 (6:56 pm)
From what I remember from Dateline NBC, they said the IIHS anonymously buys a vehicle from a dealer. So the manufacturer has no idea of when it is going to happen. Now that made sense. What this other poster said doesn't make any sense. I know someone who works for Nissan. They basically buy other cars right off the lot of competitors to do testing. Replies to this message: farout (Aug 18, 2006 1:45 pm)
#17 of 20 Re: Safety ranking of Caliber [azrdrunner] by farout Aug 18, 2006 (1:37 pm)
Replying to: azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:15 pm) azrdrummer: They are not the same is true. But they may have different colored doors, hood, and the seats might be a mixed color, but they DO resemble the equipment that they say they have to offer. To say these vehicles are a special version to make the vehicle come out better than the average vehicle is a very misleading statement and puts your statement at very serious risk. Watch what you put in print as this could come back and if tracing was done this could wind up in your lap.   Farout
#18 of 20 Re: IIHS testing [antithesis] by farout Aug 18, 2006 (1:45 pm)
Replying to: antithesis (Aug 10, 2006 6:56 pm) antithesis: Your are 100% correct! Some on this forum do not know when to say "I don't know", or have the wisdom to keep their mouth shut. What was said is disrupting and slandering a huge company, that has the resources to defend such lies. Perhaps, it just might take DCX or someone like them to bring this person into reality, and back to earth.   Farout
#19 of 20 Re: Attention new owners - Safety first [vrm] by bowling6 Oct 20, 2006 (4:12 pm)
Replying to: vrm (May 24, 2006 1:30 pm) I can say that I wasn't impressed with the safety of my own Caliber as I T-boned a big Dodge truck. He ran the light and I had no reaction time for brakes, nothing. I hit him at 35-40 mph and NONE, yes NONE of the airbage deployed. No steering wheel, no dash, no nothing. Did I mention that both vehicles were totalled ? Let me say that I will not take my payoff and put it back into another Caliber, possibly not even a Dodge for now. Finding out that the sensors are located on the frame for the radiator and not closer to the car's frame or even the front molding and bumpers scares the snot out of me. If I'd known prior, no matter the stars of safety, I wouldn't have bought it. Good Luck ! Replies to this message: jhknight (Oct 26, 2006 1:45 pm)
#20 of 20 Re: Attention new owners - Safety first [bowling6] by jhknight Oct 26, 2006 (1:45 pm)
Replying to: bowling6 (Oct 20, 2006 4:12 pm) You didn't say if you were hurt? As I understand it the Caliber system is made up of "smart" airbags which will not deploy in situation where the seatbelt will do. This is to prevent the extra expense of replacing the airbags and to prevent airbag related injuries. I don't know where the threshold for deployment is but I'm sure it depends on the type of impact. Seems like hitting a pickup on the side would be a "soft" impact which may not trigger the airbags. And if you were not hurt then the seatbelt did its job. The Caliber seems to be built like a tank and the fact you weren't hurt proves how safe it really is, I'm not concerned.

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