2010 Dodge Caliber

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 157 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
78,000 milesMedian miles at failure

115 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System26
000
Air Bags25
507
Suspension15
000
Power Train14
000
Engine13
010
Unknown or Other10
416
Vehicle Speed Control7
110
Structure › Body7
000
Steering6
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)5
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Pretensioner16V668000
Filed Sep 15, 20161,435,625 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Risk. If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Remedy. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch10V197000
Filed May 11, 2010123 vehiclesChrysler Group Llc

Defect. CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 DODGE CALIBER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT DOOR LOCK ROD IN THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR.

Risk. AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF AN UNBELTED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR LOCK ROD AS REQUIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Nov 2, 2025NJ

I was just at the dealer mechanic for an oil change and asked about a slight pull to one side when stopping. after doing the oil change he cam back with a list of things the most significant of which was a that the front sub-frame was rotted out, as well as the rear bumper metal under the plastic cover. They gave me an estimate for the repairs exceeding $7000. Then I came home an researched this problem and find its common on these calibers from 2007-2012 and is a known problem!? but no recall was ever issued! There was a "Customer Satisfaction Notification X69" Which I never received. I have also had the vehicle into the dealer other times recently and was never informed of this issue which couldn't have possibly happened over night.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 21, 2025103,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine unexpectedly shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The engine oil warning light as intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no cause of failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 10, 2025115,000 milesPA

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS) by a local dealer. Recently, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact notified the dealer of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under recall. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer who also stated that the vehicle was not covered under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 15, 2024ND

Severe rust to vehicle frame COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE, no accident. Rust has corroded frame despite normal use and normal care. Vehicle hasn't reached 75k miles yet, and the frame is failing. How is this not a recall?

Air Bags
Filed Apr 21, 2024FL

The air bag lights came on

Suspension
Filed Apr 5, 202477,200 milesWI

The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at various speeds, she heard an abnormal sound and felt a vibration in the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that he had also noticed the failure while test-driving the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear cross member was severely rusted and had fractured. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,200.

Suspension
Filed Nov 1, 2023125,000 milesIL

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while making a right turn at 10 MPH, the vehicle kept turning. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot where it was observed that the passenger’s side front axle had separated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cross member needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Steering
Filed May 12, 2023OH

Subframe rusty and broke while driving car went left almost causing a head on coalition

Air Bags
Filed Sep 29, 2022153,883 milesMS

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where an unknown diagnosis and repair were completed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,883.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification
Filed Aug 30, 2022CA

The airbag light on the dashboard kept going on and off with a ring when it came on.

Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 2022IL

Noticed the vehicle was making creaking and grinding sounds from the rear suspension. This forcing the car to struggle to reverse. Noticed a large portion of the rear suspension/subframe was rusted and was cracking.

Air BagsCrash
Filed May 13, 2022189,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, she lost control of her vehicle. The contact stated that she crashed into a pole, however, the air bag did not deploy. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated at the time. The contact stated that no medical attention was needed, and no police report was made. The contact stated that she then had the vehicle towed to her residence where it remained in her possession. The contact stated that she then contacted the dealer, as well as the manufacturer who advised her to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 189,000.

Suspension
Filed Mar 19, 2022IL

I took my car to my repair man he was trying to see why my tires had the steel treads showing and the car shaking. Once up on the lift he found the subframe was rusted out. He ordered a new frame which took all my savings. He was surprised I made it off the expressway without an accident.

Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 2022NJ

I went to mavis to get new tires for my car they showed me the frame car is not repairable and they showed me the back frame under neith the car and also showed me the rotted frame that's 2 places that's rotted I hope dodge dealer will replace the rotted frames some one can get killed because of the rotted frames and I think dodge should recall the cars and put new frames on their cars for free

Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 2022NJ

I forgot to tell you that the control arms on both sides and lower ball joints on both sides went bad because of the rotted frame on the car where the A frame sits is loose because of the rotted frame I grew up at the beach area and we never had rotted frames on any of the cars that we had dodge should have told people about the rotted frames and they are responsible that's how I feel about it what's it going to take for them to be held accountable people don't need to die or get serious injured because they did nothing about the rotted frames they should have been able to recall the cars they sold and said something about the frames getting rotted

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2021OK

Driver's side headlight stopped working and the bulb is still good. Called the dealership and apparently this is a common problem they know that they r trying to charge 1200 dollors to fix. They should have to fix the headlights because it's the manufacturers fault that they don't work correctly. Can't drive this car anymore cause you can't see to drive at night. Because the headlights don't work and it's not because of the bulbs. It's the manufacturers installation that was done wrong..

Suspension › Subframe/Mounting Bracket
Filed Apr 26, 2021186,807 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,807.

Suspension
Filed Mar 23, 2021MN

I NOTICED ON MY 2010 DODGE CALIBER THAT MY FRAME THAT ATTACHES JUST BEHIND THE OIL PAN IS REALLY RUSTY!! I THINK IT IS FROM THE PLACEMENT OF THE AC DRAIN HOSE POINTS DOWN RIGHT ON TOP OF IT. IT HAS SLOWLY DETERIORATE OF THE YEARS FROM RUNNING AC THESE LAST FEW HOT SUMMERS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR DON'T WANT IT TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 7, 2021101,000 milesIL

FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT WITH VISIBLE HOLES. MANUFACTURER ONLY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DID NOT ISSUE RECALL. I JUST FOUND OUT AND TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER COSTS. TONS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AS IT IS LISTED AS FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION (X69 WARRANTY EXTENSION) - 2008-2012 DODGE CALIBER & JEEP COMPASS/PATRIOT> TONS OF OWNERS ARE FURIOUS AND TRYING TO GET HELP ON THIS SERIOUS ISSUE THAT CAN EASILY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AND EVEN DEATH.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 5, 2021WI

FRAME RUSTED, BROKE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. TOTAL LOSS.

20 of 157 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201249130Routine
2011165210Routine
2010 — this page157232Fatalities reported
2009232120Above average
2008360042Fatalities reported
20078844180High concern
20061000Routine

Compare every Caliber year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 15, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.