Dodge Caliber, Dodge Nitro, Ford Ranger Officially Dead

The oft-forgotten Dodge Caliber and Dodge Nitro are officially dead; both vehicles ceased production this month. The old, but still popular, Ford Ranger compact pickup has also ended production, according to PickupTrucks.com.

The 2012 Caliber officially kicked the bucket this past Friday. The Caliber, which was produced at Chrysler Belvidere Assembly in Illinois, will be replaced by the 2013 Dodge Dart. The new compact sedan will go into production at the plant in August or September. In preparation for the Dart, the plant got a $600 million upgrade.

Dodge Nitro, Caliber Knocking on Death's Door

The Dodge Caliber and Dodge Nitro are nearing the end of their lives and will cease production soon, Chrysler has announced. But before they go away for good, both models will get new trims and packaging.

Chrysler decided to extend production on its 2011 Dodge Nitro (there will be no 2012 model year) so that it can fulfill orders related to a burst in customer demand for the model, the automaker said. Nitro sales are up 24% so far this year. Joining the Heat trim, a new R/T trim will be added to the 2011 Nitro lineup. The Heat 4.0, Detonator and Shock trims will no longer be produced.

The R/T Nitro gets 20-inch wheels, power heated seats and leather upholstery. A 260-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 is standard, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.  The Heat model sticks with a 210-hp 3.7-liter V-6. Both models are available with four-wheel drive. Neither trim has pricing info yet.

Recall Alert: 11,351 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Vehicles

Chrysler Group is recalling 11,351 vehicles across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands over an incorrectly installed steering column, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Listed in the recall are 2011 models of the Chrysler 200, Chrysler 200 convertible, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The affected vehicles were built between April 13 and May 6.

In some of the vehicles, the steering column may have been improperly installed, with either a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. On vehicles where the rivet is out of sorts, the steering column can cause more physical harm to passengers in the event of a frontal crash.  

Chrysler dealers will inspect the rivet and the alignment of the steering column and make repairs if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin this month. Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

New Jeep Liberty Coming in 2012, Dodge Nitro Uncertain

With a mostly fresh lineup of 2011 vehicles over at Jeep, the only odd man out is the Liberty. It’s still an important model for Jeep — its third best-seller — so we weren’t surprised to see that a new Liberty will be coming in 2012, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Chrysler. That’s an advancement of one year from the expected 2013 launch, which Chrysler presented under its five-year product plan in late 2009.

Other tidbits of information include Chrysler’s desire to have start-stop technology in 90% of its North American offerings by 2017. We reported on other developments like a new Dodge Viper for 2012 and a nine-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel-drive sedans in 2013 in an earlier post.

For 2011, the Jeep Liberty received some minor updates, including a new steering wheel, and a price cut, which we’ve covered. A 70th Anniversary Edition Liberty is also available. The 2011 is shown above.

If Chrysler’s earlier product plan presentation is still accurate, a new Dodge Nitro is still under consideration; otherwise, the current model will likely be discontinued after the 2011 model year.

Chrysler Incentives Push Hemi V-8, Leasing In February

Chrysler has added a few cash-back incentives to its new 2011 model lineup, including more cash on the hood for high-output V-8 Ram trucks. More importantly, this time around Chrysler is offering some attractive lease deals. However, most of the cash incentives on the 2010 models are gone with the lone exception of the 2010 Dodge Challenger, which has $2,000 cash back.

The 2011 Dodge Nitro gets another $500 tacked onto its cash-back plan, which now totals $3,000. There’s another $1,000 added on the Caliber, so buyers can get up to $2,500 cash back on that model. Most of the redesigned models like the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and the Chrysler minivans don’t have any cash incentives, but they do have fairly attractive financing deals.

If you want to get a better deal on one of Chrysler’s newer models, there are lease deals to be had such as $199 a month for the Dodge Avenger or Chrysler 200 or $359 a month for the new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T.

Most of the incentives below expire Feb. 28.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Ram Heavy Duty Trucks

Chrysler is recalling 76,122 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks from the 2010 and 2011 model years over a defective power-steering reservoir cap, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the recalled trucks, which were built between March 2009 and October 2010 and are powered by the available Cummins diesel engine, excessive vent pressure in the reservoir cap could lead to a brake pedal that’s slow to return. As a result, the brake lights may remain lit longer, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles are equipped with a diesel engine and Hydroboost brake system, which uses power-steering pressure for brake assist.

Chrysler will notify owners in February 2011, and dealers will replace the reservoir cap for free. For more info, owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Chrysler Adds Cash Back to Slow Sellers for December

For December, Chrysler is extending most incentives and adding a few new ones to entice shoppers.

New additions include an Owner Loyalty cash-back program for the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country and 2010 Grand Caravan. Each minivan is eligible for 0% financing for 72 months or up to $2,000 cash back. The program is also open to owners of minivans from competing brands. If you’re looking at these two vans, keep in mind that they've been extensively refreshed for the 2011 model year. The 2011 Chrysler minivans are already in production and should reach dealerships soon.

The 2011 Dodge Caliber gets an extra $1,000 cash back for the month, now up to $2,000, as well as 0% financing for 36 months.

The Dodge Challenger gets an additional $1,500 cash-back offer for consumers who buy the 2010 with a manual transmission. When exploring this option, remember that the Challenger gets a new V-6 for 2011.

The 2011 Jeep Liberty, which received a few updates, has increased its cash-back offer by $1,500 in December, now up to $2,500 cash back. The new 2011 Jeep Patriot also gets a new $500 lease bonus cash offer for the month.

The Ram brand continues its Engine Bonus Cash, which offers a cash-back incentive of $500 to $1,000 depending on powertrain, though most of the additional bonus cash for the truck brand has been dropped for December.

For more details, continue reading below:

Recall Alert: Chrysler Recalls About 22,000 Vehicles

Chrysler has issued a recall for about 22,000 vehicles due to a problem with hydraulic brake tubes on certain 2010 models. 

The recall affects the 2010 Ram 1500, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler. These vehicles could have hydraulic braking problems that could lead to a loss of brake fluid and reduced braking performance, increasing the possibility of a crash. 

The recall is expected to begin next month. Dealers will inspect and replace the brake tubes for free. Owners may contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s hot line at 800-327-4236.

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Chrysler Expanding 60-Day Return Incentive

Chrysler has been allowing buyers of its Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans to return them within 60 days if they weren’t satisfied with the purchase. Now the company is expanding the program to most Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. Only the Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Viper are excluded.

They’ll also pay for the first two months of payments up to $1,000 total. Chrysler says they’ll take the return “no questions asked,” but buyers will still be on the hook for fees, finance charges and negative equity, which could be significant. We list all the fine print below.

Chrysler is also offering 0% financing for 60 months on 2010 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles through Aug. 2.

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Dodge Nitro

Cars.com editor Bill Jackson compares the 2010 Dodge Nitro to a bacon double-cheeseburger; it’s highly enjoyable even though he knows it’s not the best for him. The Nitro is a member of a rare breed: a truck-based SUV that comes with all the benefits (towing capability) and downsides (gas mileage) of that platform. Although the Nitro is certainly not for every driver, read Jackson’s full review to find out if its good points are useful enough to overlook its flaws.

2010 Dodge Nitro Review