"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 stop working, and if it's not the horn it would be the airbag. The car has not been in a collision, nor has the airbag…
2012 Dodge Caliber airbags problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
4crashes
1fire
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 16 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 33% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2012 Dodge Caliber with 16 reported complaints shows two serious issues: airbags that fail to deploy in real crashes (causing injuries), and a widespread recall since 2016 with still-unavailable parts. Avoid this vehicle unless you can verify the occupant restraint controller has been replaced and function tested.
The 2012 Caliber airbag system has two distinct problems. First, owners report complete airbag deployment failure during actual collisions—head-on impacts at 35 mph, rollovers, and side-impact crashes where airbags never fired, leaving occupants injured from seatbelt contact and blunt trauma. One owner hit a guard rail hard enough to total the vehicle; another rolled after a rear-end collision. Neither deployed.
Second, a recall (NHTSA 16V668000) addresses a shorting condition in the occupant restraint controller that kills deployment capability through a negative voltage spike on the front impact sensor wires. This silent electrical fault disables the airbag and seat belt pretensioner with no warning to the driver.
Third, the recall remedy is blocked by parts shortage. Owners received recall notices starting September 2016, but dealers have reported parts unavailable into 2017 and beyond—some owners waited eight months or longer with no timeline for repair.
Additionally, owners report the horn (built into the airbag assembly) fails or operates spontaneously without input, sometimes activating in the garage at night, and requires manipulating the horn pad while driving to silence it. Dealers cannot service the horn without addressing the airbag assembly.
Same Dodge Caliber airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag deployment failure in crashes
Airbags fail to deploy during vehicle collisions despite impact sufficient to damage the vehicle. Owners report no airbag deployment during accidents ranging from head-on guard rail strikes at 35 mph to rollover collisions, resulting in injuries including whiplash, concussions, and neck lacerations from seatbelts.
When: During collisions (varying severity)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during impact; Vehicle sustains significant damage but restraints inactive; Occupants injured without airbag protection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 addresses loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability due to shorting condition in occupant restraint controller circuit
Horn dysfunction and intermittent operation
Horn located in airbag assembly fails to operate or operates intermittently and unpredictably. Owners report horn will not sound when pressed, but activates on its own without warning, sometimes while vehicle is parked in garage. Issue worsens during highway driving and requires physical manipulation of horn pad to stop spontaneous sounding.
When: At 4 years old; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Horn fails to sound when pressed; Horn activates spontaneously without driver input; Spontaneous honking while parked with vehicle in closed garage; Requires moving horn pad up and down to stop activation while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Repair blocked because horn is integrated into airbag assembly; dealers unable to service independently
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refuses to deem horn issue a recall despite widespread reports on multiple model years
Recall part shortage and repair delays
Widespread parts unavailability for NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 (occupant restraint controller and airbag assembly components). Multiple owners received recall notices in 2016 but dealers cannot source repair parts months later. Manufacturers provided uncertain timelines (mid-June or July 2017) or no timeline at all. Some owners waited from September 2016 through May 2017 or longer with no remedy.
When: Recall issued 2016; parts unavailable through 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts not in stock; Dealer unable to schedule repair; Extended wait times with uncertain completion dates
Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; parts distribution disconnect confirmed by VIN tool multiple times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 for occupant restraint controller shorting condition; manufacturer advised parts would become available mid-June or July 2017
Occupant restraint controller electrical malfunction
Shorting condition in the occupant restraint controller creates a negative voltage transient that travels through front impact sensor wires, disabling airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability. This electrical fault can prevent safety restraints from activating during a crash without any outward sign of system failure.
When: Pre-existing condition; can occur at any mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Silent electrical fault in restraint controller; No warning light or diagnostic indication to driver; System appears normal until crash occurs
Codes mentioned: Occupant restraint controller shorting condition (electrical)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 addresses this defect; remedy required replacement of occupant restraint controller
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Air bags did not deploy in my car accident in april 2017, car was totaled. Received concussion and whiplash as a result of my air bags not deploying. My car was reg maintained at the Dodge dealership on river dale rd, ogden, ut called in and spoke with a rep (shay) 10/09/2017 and she gave me a case # 32584117 ...updated 10/13/17 *bf updated 7/26/18*jb
I was involved in a car accident on thursday where I hit a guard rail pretty hard and dead on. At the time I was going 35 MPH in the pouring rain. My airbags never deployed. This is very bothersome as I have had issues with this car before not starting all the time when I first purchased the car. I had bumper damage, the right head light was damaged and my neck was sliced by the seatbelt! *tr
A car hit us in the passenger door we rolled and slid and none of the side curtain air bags went off. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge caliber. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (seat belts, air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available for recall…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 Dodge Caliber?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 54,405 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Dodge/Caliber.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.