Dodge Caliber Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Dodge Caliber model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2006 drew the fewest (1) and the 2007 the most (958).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
49 | 1 | Air bags | 3★ | 24–27 |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
157 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 23–26 |
| 2011 | 165 | 2 | Air bags | 3★ | 24–27 |
| 2009 Among the most complaints |
232 | 1 | Power train | — | 22–27 |
| 2008 Among the most complaints |
377 | 0 | Suspension | — | 22–26 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
958 | 4 | Suspension | — | 22–26 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Dodge Caliber years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2007 Dodge Caliber: 958 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 281 (29%); Electrical system 210 (22%); Structure 170 (18%).
Reports mention 57 crashes, 18 fires, 40 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 83,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Dodge Caliber: 377 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 118 (31%); Structure 89 (24%); Electrical system 63 (17%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 5 fires, 14 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 86,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2009 Dodge Caliber: 232 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 64 (28%); Suspension 61 (26%); Structure 49 (21%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Dodge Caliber years with the fewest complaints
2012 Dodge Caliber: 49 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 17 (35%); Seat belts 13 (27%); Vehicle speed control 7 (14%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 72,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2010 Dodge Caliber: 157 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 32 (20%); Air bags 31 (20%); Suspension 26 (17%).
Reports mention 12 crashes, 3 fires, 15 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 78,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Dodge Caliber owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 49 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 72,000 |
| 2011 | 165 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 63,000 |
| 2010 | 157 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 78,000 |
| 2009 | 232 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 2008 | 377 | 21 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 86,000 |
| 2007 | 958 | 57 | 18 | 40 | 0 | 83,000 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Dodge Caliber recalls
- Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled (2010–2012 model years; 1,435,625 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2016; 16V668000)
- Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable (2007 model year; 61,791 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2017; 17V824000)
- ABS CONTROL MODULE (2007 model year; 50,665 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2006; 06V493000)
- STICKING OR BINDING ACCELERATOR PEDALS (2007 model year; 24,825 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2010; 10V234000)
- STEERING COLUMN (2011 model year; 11,096 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2011; 11V315000)
All 8 Dodge Caliber recall campaigns · Dodge Caliber problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Dodge Caliber years FAQ
Which Dodge Caliber year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2006 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Dodge Caliber years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2007, 2008 and 2009 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the suspension. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Dodge Caliber problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the suspension (522 of 1,939 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Dodge Caliber have?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns covering the Dodge Caliber. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Dodge Caliber recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.