dodge Caliber problems
0 safety recalls. 49 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
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…
THE STRUCTURE/FRAME IN THE FRONT OF OUR 2012 DODGE CALIBER WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THE FRAME BROKE WHEN WE PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND STOPPED AT THE END OF AN EXIT. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY A RECALL, B UT A BULLETIN HAS BEEN RELEASED.
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
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.
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. 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. 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 aren't always better value.