Dodge›Caliber›2008›2.0L Diesel/dodge/caliber/2008/2-0l-diesel/
PM platform

2008 Dodge Caliber — 2.0L Diesel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Caliber 2.0L Diesel. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L Diesel.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0L DieselTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2008 Dodge Caliber 2.0L Diesel is a compact passenger car built on the PM platform, powered by a 2.0‑liter inline‑four diesel engine that runs on 4.5 quarts of oil with filter and is compatible with 5W‑20 or 5W‑30 API‑rated viscosities. Its automatic transmission features variable gear ratios and the vehicle averages 23 / 27 / 24 mpg city/highway/combined, a respectable figure for its class. In the broader reliability picture, the Caliber’s 2008 model sits in the middle of a seven‑year span (2006‑2012) that saw a peak of 958 complaints in 2007 and a low of just one complaint in 2006, with the 2008 year reporting 377 owner complaints—most centered on suspension—yet no recalls, indicating a relatively stable but not flawless design.

Model year200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/27/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04884899AC. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-70R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04884899AC alt 04892339BE
Engine air filter04891694AA discontinued
Spark plugSP0ZFR5F11 alt SP00ZFR5AP
BatteryBB34A901AA alt 56041380AF
Front wiper blades05183260AA alt 05183258AA
Thermostat55111016AC alt 55111017AB
Cabin air filter05058693AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length173.6 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height60.2 in
Wheelbase103.9 in
Curb weight3309 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 27 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9020 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9020
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.1 Pints
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 5W-30 · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidATF +4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsM6 Bolts: 7 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 22 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts155 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug24.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug24.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.13-1.31 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40-4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression170
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle52 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep If your bolt has the short head, use the following torque specifications:

125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
245 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
345 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
490 degreesCAUTION:Do not use a torque wrench for the Fourth step.; If your bolt has the long head, use the following torque specifications:90 degrees
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
254 ft. lbs.54 ft. lbs
354 ft. lbs.54 ft. lbs
490 degreesCAUTION:Do not use a torque wrench for the Fourth step.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Bolts stamped with the letter B or the number 6 use the following torque procedure.

111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees; Bolts that are not stamped with the letter B or the number 6 use the following torque procedure.11 ft. lbs
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 33 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees11 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; coolant at 102,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 102,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 12,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 12,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 90,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 102,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data positions the 2008 model year as a transitional point in the Caliber's production run, with complaints dropping sharply to 377 from the 2007 peak of 958, yet remaining elevated above the 232 to 49 range observed from 2009 through 2012. Unlike the four recalls affecting the 2007 model, the 2008 model incurred zero recalls and zero federal investigations, sharing this clean regulatory record only with the low-volume 2006 launch year. While complaint volume trended downward across the generation, the 2008 model still generated significant owner reports in suspension and structure categories, alongside 21 crash-related and 5 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Positioned after the initial quality spike but before the final production years' reduced volumes, the 2008 model presents a moderate risk profile that avoids the recall density of adjacent years while retaining higher complaint frequency than later iterations, making it a cautiously acceptable but not optimal choice within the generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
51
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
377
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’06’07’08’09’10’11’12

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 377 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension51
Structure44
Suspension,Structure20
Unknown Or Other18
Power Train16
Electrical System15
Air Bags13
Steering,Suspension12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 51 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
90040092021-04-07Power TrainTransmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…
90042682020-06-24Fuel System, GasolineTHROTTLE BODY For clarification, only use 68414676A$ on 2010 & earlier vehicles as supply…
90042682020-06-24EngineTHROTTLE BODY For clarification, only use 68414676A$ on 2010 & earlier vehicles as supply…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P2002
Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0401
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
P20EE
SCR NOx catalyst efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0087
Fuel rail / system pressure too low
P0299
Turbocharger / supercharger underboost condition

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Caliber. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 86 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qt w/ filterPM-platform vehiclesEngine oil filter 04884899ACEngine air filter 04891694AASpark plug SP0ZFR5F11Battery BB34A901AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Caliber 2.0L Diesel take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API OR 5W-30 API MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-6395, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Caliber have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L Diesel get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 27 highway / 24 combined mpg.