I have experienced my car suddenly decreasing speed to around 30 MPH after the throttle body light comes on. The second time I was on the freeway, the other times were on the street. Once I turn off my car and restart it is fine, unfortunately this is occurring more frequently. I bought my car new, it is only 3 years old, this should not be happening. It only has 56,000 miles and gets serviced on…
2011 Dodge Caliber cruise control problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 12 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Dodge Caliber, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Dodge Caliber in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Dodge Caliber's electronic throttle control system is prone to sudden power loss and uncontrolled deceleration, even with the accelerator floored—a serious safety defect that occurs without warning and Chrysler has not fixed despite complaints going back to at least 2007. Expect this risk at any mileage and repeated shop visits that may not resolve the problem.
Owners report the 2011 Dodge Caliber's cruise control and electronic throttle control system shutting down unexpectedly while driving, with the car losing power and dropping to very low speeds (2–30 mph) regardless of accelerator pedal position. The Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light typically illuminates when this happens, often accompanied by Check Engine, traction control, and engine warning lights. Episodes occur at highway speeds and local roads alike, with no clear pattern—some owners experience it multiple times daily, others sporadically. Restarting the engine restores power temporarily, but the problem recurs. Owners report diagnostic codes U1407, U1424, and U1425 (all involving implausible torque or pedal position signals). One owner replaced the throttle body three times under warranty with no permanent fix; another paid $600 out-of-pocket for an Electronic Throttle Control unit replacement. Dealerships frequently claim they find nothing wrong when the car is brought in, and Chrysler has not provided recalls or technical service bulletins for the issue. One owner notes Chrysler acknowledged the problem in 2007 Calibers but never resolved it. The failures create genuine safety hazards on highways and during traffic merges, leaving owners stranded and unable to accelerate.
Same Dodge Caliber cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Loss of Power
Vehicle suddenly loses engine power and decelerates uncontrollably to very low speeds (2–30 mph), even with accelerator pedal fully depressed. ETC warning light illuminates. Episodes recur unpredictably; restarting the engine restores power temporarily.
When: Occurs at highway speeds and local roads; no clear pattern. Some owners report multiple episodes daily; others intermittently. Mileage documented from 56,000 to 90,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deceleration with no warning; Loss of acceleration response despite floored pedal; ETC warning light illumination; Check Engine light and traction control warning lights; Rough idle at startup; Engine power loss at low and high RPMs; Extreme jerking during acceleration (intermittent); Power restored only after engine restart
Codes mentioned: U1407 (Implausible Engine Torque Request Signal Received), U1424 (Implausible Engine Torque Signal Received), U1425 (Implausible Pedal Position Signal Received)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced throttle body three times under warranty without permanent resolution. Another owner replaced the Electronic Throttle Control unit at personal cost of $600. Dealerships frequently unable to diagnose or repair; many claim no fault found on inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler did not assist with repairs in at least two documented cases. Owner notes the same issue existed in 2007 Calibers (NHTSA Action PE10012) but was never permanently resolved.
Cruise Control Malfunction
Cruise control does not function. One owner reports changing speed sensor with no resolution.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Speed sensor replacement attempted without success.
ABS System Failure
Anti-lock braking system not working. Speed sensor replacement did not restore function.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: ABS not functioning
Repairs/costs cited: Speed sensor replacement attempted without resolving the ABS failure.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I have had this happen to me twice now. The first time back on 9-4-13 and again now 11-18-13. For some reason while driving it I will loose acceleration it won't go more than 5 miles when applying the gas. The first time I was a light getting ready to make a left hand turn. After my turn I notice the car would not go faster then 5 miles, even with the pedal to the floor. And again the other day,…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Dodge Caliber?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 64,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 64,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Dodge/Caliber.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.