Dodge Caliber problems
165 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Suspension: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 35,000–117,521 mi
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge caliber. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (seat belts, air bags). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Tl-contact owns a 2011 Dodge caliber ----- received tk holdings postcard ---- contact brought vehicle at a used car dealership knows worcestor Dodge - called dealership and dealership gave contact a case number -- contacted adam at Dodge and he is not responding to phone calls…
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 just bought this vehicle July 28 of 23. It was supposed to have been inspected to be sold. It’s completely rusted out the whole bottom of the car it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve been told by three people the people that did the inspection and said it was OK, and then Belle tire,…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Caliber reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Dodge Caliber is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
The 2011 Dodge Caliber is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Suspension: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 35,000–117,521 mi; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 33 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 105,833 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 105,833 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Dodge Caliber has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Dodge Caliber?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 165 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.