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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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#2 of 20 Attention new owners - Safety first by vrm May 24, 2006 (1:30 pm)
Hi, I have never bought a Dodge/Chrysler vehicle before. I have concerns about the general reliability of Dodge vehicles.   Can the new owners please provide some feedback:   1) Are there any "fit and finish" issues in the new Caliber? Example: squeaks, rattles or loud engine?   2) I have not seen any safety crash test results. Any idea if this vehicle will get 5 stars for front AND side impact?   Thanks! Replies to this message: lexan1965 (May 24, 2006 5:17 pm) vrm (May 25, 2006 9:21 am) bowling6 (Oct 20, 2006 4:12 pm) jhknight (Oct 26, 2006 1:45 pm)
#3 of 20 Re: Attention new owners - Safety first [vrm] by lexan1965 May 24, 2006 (5:17 pm)
Replying to: vrm (May 24, 2006 1:30 pm) I have had no issues with any noises, etc. on my Caliber. If u go to the national highway institute web site it gave the Caliber 5 star ratings for front crash (offset) for both driver and front passenger. Replies to this message: vrm (May 25, 2006 9:21 am)
#4 of 20 Re: Attention new owners - Safety first [lexan1965] by vrm May 25, 2006 (9:21 am)
Replying to: lexan1965 (May 24, 2006 5:17 pm) I have had no issues with any noises, etc. on my Caliber. If u go to the national highway institute web site it gave the Caliber 5 star ratings for front crash (offset) for both driver and front passenger.   NHTSA has indeed tested this car for Frontal crash only. The side impact has not been tested. This test which is part of the "NCAP" is an EASY test to pass. Also, this is not an offset test.   The real test will be the one conducted by IIHS. I have my doubts if the Caliber will be able to ace the IIHS tests which mimic real world conditions.
#5 of 20 Caliber - a safety lemon?? by vrm May 25, 2006 (9:24 am)
Folks: Do you think that Dodge is deliberately shying from the side impact tests?   Before I buy a car, I would like to know how safe it is. I dont want to buy a lemon when it comes to safety. Replies to this message: neely2005 (May 25, 2006 9:48 am) azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:12 pm)
#6 of 20 Re: Caliber - a safety lemon?? [vrm] by neely2005 May 25, 2006 (9:48 am)
Replying to: vrm (May 25, 2006 9:24 am) I doubt it since All Calibers come with Standard Curtain Airbags, Standard Driver & Front Passenger Airbags and Standard Front Seat Knee Airbags. Plus Chrysler is going to sell this vehicle worldwide so it has to meet the Saftety Standards of all of the countries it's sold in & since all the vehicles for the entire world market are being produced from the same plant in the USA they'll all be the same. That's why the Caliber has such powerful headlights - it has to meet the Tougher European standards. Replies to this message: azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:12 pm)
#7 of 20 Re: Caliber - a safety lemon?? [neely2005] by azrdrunner May 31, 2006 (5:12 pm)
Replying to: neely2005 (May 25, 2006 9:48 am) Really folks, I understand the desire to want the ultimate in ratings for safety but come on...we are driving sheet metal while we sit 14 inches off the asphalt, what can the safety numbers mean when you get t-boned by a larger (say 1980 Lincoln) car? Nothing. If saftey is the issue, I would do what I did...my family rides in a new Dodge Ram 1500 - my kid's sneakers are a foot above my head in the Caliber if you put them on a level surface. Stick to Aa large vehicle. I do know that the Calibers have a deflector that sends the engine underneath you in case of a head-on, but don;t dwell on it. I race these things in the dirt and I wear a crash helmet, but I wouldn't dream of taking my wife and kids to the mall in one.
#8 of 20 Safety ranking of Caliber by vrm May 31, 2006 (10:29 am)
When will IIHS do the front offset and side-impact test on the Caliber? This test will determine the safety stripes of the Caliber.   The NHTSA crash test is less severe. Almost all the cars manage to get a 5 star rating on the NHTSA crash test   Is Chrysler/Dodge delaying this test deliberately? Replies to this message: micweb (May 31, 2006 4:20 pm) azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:15 pm) vrm (Jul 28, 2006 1:24 pm) farout (Aug 18, 2006 1:37 pm)
#9 of 20 Re: Safety ranking of Caliber [vrm] by micweb May 31, 2006 (4:20 pm)
Replying to: vrm (May 31, 2006 10:29 am) Chrysler has no control over the testing, by IIHS, a private organization, of the Caliber. Some companies (VW did this) who expect high test scores and want publicity will pay IIHS to test early, but only a very few do this, possibly because it might make a wrong impression (if the company paid, are the results honest?).   Conversely, some companies (Ford) are too cheap to pay for the extra costs of testing with side air bags, where side air bags are optional (IIHS only tests standard equipped cars).   I wouldn't read anything into the lack of IIHS test results. With their very limited, private funding budget, sometimes they never test cars at all.   NHTSA is also slow testing. It is no reflection on the manufacturer. Replies to this message: azrdrunner (May 31, 2006 5:15 pm) vrm (Jul 28, 2006 1:24 pm) farout (Aug 18, 2006 1:37 pm)
#10 of 20 Re: Safety ranking of Caliber [micweb] by azrdrunner May 31, 2006 (5:15 pm)
Replying to: micweb (May 31, 2006 4:20 pm) Yes, Diamler has all the control they need to deliver the numbers you want to see. I work in the test track design component as a private contractor and I can tell you the cars they deliver to the testers are NOT the same ones you buy at the dealer. Replies to this message: vrm (Jul 28, 2006 1:24 pm) farout (Aug 18, 2006 1:37 pm)

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