Dodge›Caliber›2009›2.0L Diesel/dodge/caliber/2009/2-0l-diesel/

PM platform

2009 Dodge Caliber — 2.0L Diesel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 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 2009 Dodge Caliber 2.0L Diesel is a passenger car built on Dodge's PM platform, pairing a 2.0L diesel engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission to deliver EPA fuel economy of 23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. Maintenance is straightforward, with a 4.5-quart oil capacity (filter included) and a recommended viscosity of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API oil. In the context of the Caliber's 2006–2012 complaint history, this model year represents a significant improvement over the troubled 2007 model year, which logged 958 owner complaints — by contrast, the 2009 accumulated 232 complaints with power train issues leading the list and a single recall, placing it firmly in the quieter, more reliable second half of the model's production run.

Model year2009 2008 2007

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 Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeP215-60R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	04884899AC alt 04892339BE
Engine air filter	04891694AA discontinued
Spark plug	SP00ZFR5AP alt SP0ZFR5F11
Battery	BB34A901AA alt 56041380AF
Front wiper blades	05183260AA alt 05183258AA
Thermostat	55111017AB alt 55111016AC
Cabin air filter	05058693AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	173.6 in
Overall width	68.9 in
Overall height	60.2 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	3309 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 27 / 24 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	95 cu ft
Cargo volume	19 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular 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 Oil	80W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9020
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.1 Pints
Engine Coolant	HOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API · 5W-30 · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt w/ filter
Power Steering Fluid	ATF +4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	M6 Bolts: 7 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 22 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	155 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps	If your bolt has the short head
Cylinder Head Steps	If your bolt has the short head
Engine Flywheel Bolts	70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	25 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.504-.616 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5220-6380 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Champion
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.13-1.31 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	3.40-4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	170
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	52 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	44 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	80 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

15 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep The front two cylinder head bolts require washers to be installed with the beveled edge facing up. Lubricate bolts with clean engine oil

1	25 ft. lbs.	25 ft. lbs
2	54 ft. lbs.	54 ft. lbs
3	54 ft. lbs.	54 ft. lbs
4	90 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.

1	11 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
1	11 ft. lbs., Step 2: 33 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees	11 ft. lbs

Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 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 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 12,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 12,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 24,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 90,000 mi	PCV Valve (inspect)
At 102,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 mi	Drive 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 required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter 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 needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The 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.

The Dodge Caliber's federal record reveals a generation defined by a massive spike in issues during its 2007 model year (958 complaints and 4 recalls), followed by a steady downward arc in subsequent years. The 2009 model year sits squarely within this declining phase, registering 232 complaints, which marks a continued drop from 2008's 377 but remains notably higher than the 157 complaints recorded for 2010. In 2009, the primary trouble areas were Power Train (37 complaints), Structure (32), and Suspension (30), alongside 13 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes of these failures. While the 2009 Caliber reflects the brand's progress in resolving early-generation flaws, its complaint volume is still elevated compared to later iterations. Consequently, the 2009 model is a mediocre choice within this generation, and buyers would be better served by skipping it in favor of a 2010 or 2011 model for improved long-term reliability.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

232

Owner complaints

13 involved a crash · 2 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’06 ’07 ’08’09’10 ’11 ’12

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 232 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train37

Structure32

Suspension30

Unknown Or Other13

Suspension,Structure10

Engine6

Air Bags5

Seat Belts5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V528000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)Reported 09/10/2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 35 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
9100226	2023-09-15	Electrical System	Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
9100226	2023-09-15	Electrical System	Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
9004009	2021-04-07	Power Train	Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…
9004268	2020-06-24	Fuel System, Gasoline	THROTTLE BODY For clarification, only use 68414676A$ on 2010 & earlier vehicles as supply…
9004268	2020-06-24	Engine	THROTTLE 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 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt w/ filter PM-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 04884899AC Engine air filter 04891694AA Spark plug SP00ZFR5AP Battery BB34A901AA

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 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 2009 Caliber have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 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.