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 SAFTY ISSUE BUT NOT WITH DODGE NEVER AGAIN WILL I BY DODGE THEY SUCK.
2012 dodge Caliber powertrain problems
severe 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
MT 2012 DODGE CALIBER HAD A ROLL AWAY INCIDENT ON 9/6/2103 WHEN PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. IT ROLLED AND THEN DOVE DOWN A VERY STEEP HILL WITH TREES WHICH EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE CAR ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LATE MODEL CARS UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF SHIFTER ASSEMBLY DEFECTS AND POTENTIAL FOR 'ROLL AWAY…
MY DODGE CALIBER 2012 SXT STILL UNDER WARRANTY HAD A FAILED MANUFACTURER COMPONENT, THE 'SHIFT INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY' WHICH CONTROLS DRIVE, PARK, REVERSE, NUETRAL AND ALL TRANSMISSION SETTINGS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON BLACKTOP AREA BEHIND MY HOUSE AND ROLLED FORWARD. IT PLUNGED HEADFIRST DOWN A STEEP HILL HILL CRASHING THROUGH BACK YARD FOREST. TREES EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES…
IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM ANY POSITION. DRIVE, NEUTRAL, REVERSE OR ANY. THIS LETS VEHICLE KEY BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN PARK POSITION. THE 2012 DODGE CALIBER CAN JUST ROLL AWAY. CAUGHT CAR A FEW TIMES ROLLING. NOW HAD A VERY RECENT SERIOUS CRASH. IT WAS SITTING BEHIND HOUSE AND ROLLED DOWN A STEEP HILL THROUGH TREES, WITH BODY DAMAGE. IT WAS STOPPED BY TREES AND WINCHED OUT OF THE …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 dodge Caliber?
It's a meaningful issue. 5 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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