Dodge Caliber problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 49 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — 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 6 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
This car just droped power on the highway at 60mph to 15 MPH with no warning had to fight my way to the sholder and call a tow truck the Dodge dealer said it was something with the carbarater 700.00 dollars later and not covered the car wasn't even 3 years old this should be a…
My oils and fluid levels were fine. I have about 74,000 on my vehicle, and just had a recent oil change about 300 miles or so ago. While driving around 35 MPH on a local street, my vehicle''s check engine light and ABS light came on. The steering went out and I immediately lost…
Per the x69 warranty notice I had the crossmember replaced. The dealership states that Dodge does not cover the alignment that is needed due to the crossmember repair. The repair of the defect caused the need for the alignment. This seems to be a scam
"takata recall" I have a 2012 Dodge caliber and the horn has suddenly stopped working and I am unsure why. The horn is located in the airbag assembly and because of this I have not been able to get it replaced. I don't understand why a horn on a 4 year old car would suddenly…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2012 Dodge Caliber reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 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 2012 Dodge Caliber?
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Dodge Caliber does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — 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 2012 Dodge Caliber?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 16 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,405 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 54,405 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 2012 Dodge Caliber?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 49 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.