Dodge Caliber Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,848 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Dodge Caliber, across 7 model years (2006–2012). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (884). The most reported problem area overall is suspension.
Dodge Caliber years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Caliber year: 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Caliber: 884 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2008 Caliber: 360 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2009 Caliber: 232 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2006 Caliber: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2012 Caliber: 49 complaints, 1 recall
- 2010 Caliber: 157 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Dodge Caliber problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension problems | 491 | 7 | 15 |
| Electrical System problems | 339 | 6 | 5 |
| Structure problems | 331 | 6 | 5 |
| Power Train problems | 220 | 6 | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 187 | 6 | 12 |
| Engine problems | 175 | 6 | 4 |
| Steering problems | 172 | 6 | 9 |
| Air Bags problems | 159 | 6 | 56 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 127 | 6 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 78 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 75 | 6 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 54 | 6 | 1 |
| Wheels | 54 | 6 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 51 | 6 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 46 | 6 | 7 |
| Tires | 41 | 4 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 4 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 29 | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 22 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Equipment | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Visibility | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Dodge Caliber problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2009: power train (64) · suspension (61)
- 2008: suspension (113) · structure (87) · electrical system (58)
- 2007: suspension (255) · electrical system (197) · structure (158) · vehicle speed control (104) · steering (98) · exterior lighting (93) · power train (80) · engine (59)
All Dodge Caliber model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Caliber | 49 | 1 | 3★ | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Caliber | 165 | 2 | 3★ | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 Caliber | 157 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Caliber | 232 | 1 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 Caliber | 360 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Caliber | 884 | 4 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Caliber | 1 | 0 | — | Suspension |
More from Dodge: all Dodge models · Dodge VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caliber years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (884), 2008 (360) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Caliber year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Dodge Caliber?
Suspension, with 491 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Dodge Caliber have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.