MODELYEARINDEX

Which Dodge Caliber years to avoid

No Dodge Caliber model year in 2010–2012 falls into the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011, and even those sit close to this model’s own median.

Ownership label · Dodge Caliber Full report
C
Grade 2010–2012
2010 vs model median 1.0×
Model median3× median
Electrical 14
Engine 14
Speed Control 8
Weakest

2010 · 2011

Best

2011 · 2012

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.04× 66 C
2011
1.00× 67 B
2012
0.45× 21 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 C 66 reports · median 49,774 mi

  1. Electrical 14

    The contact owns a 2010 dodge caliber. The contact attempted several times to start the ignition yet the engine failed to engage. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 14

    The vehicle stalls without warning as I AM coming to a stop (such as a stop light or stop sign). There is no warning in the warning lights and this is very dangerous. I have had this happen numerous times. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Speed Control 8

    While turning at low speed car accelerated uncontrollably. Air bags did not deploy in frontal crash. Car caught fire. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 2 fire · 8 injuries

2011 B 67 reports · median 9,814 mi

  1. Engine 28

    The 2011 dodge caliber I purchased had seven (7) miles on it when I test drove it. The vehicle has stalled without warning at the stop light and while in motion. Most of the stalls were experienced after making a turn. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 9

    2011 dodge caliber has stalled three times and starter has remained engaged when starting vehicle in the timespan of one week since vehicle was purchased approx. Three weeks ago. Vehicle has been in the service dept. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 6

    Was driving car , took a left hand turn and car died in middle of intersection , had enough momentum to carry car through intersection so there was no accident. The car stared right back up seemed fine. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 4 injuries

The best year for the Caliber

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring Caliber model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 86.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.45× 21 A
2011 1.00× 67 B
2010 1.04× 66 C

Recalls

3 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V668000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER 2010–2012 1,435,625
11V315000 STEERING:COLUMN 2011 11,096
10V197000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2010 123

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 49,774 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Dodge Caliber years should you avoid?
No Dodge Caliber model year in 2010–2012 scores in the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011.
What is the best year for the Dodge Caliber?
2012 is the best-scoring Dodge Caliber model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 86.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Dodge Caliber have?
3 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Dodge Caliber model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 Caliber
Complaints in window
66
Severity-weighted
132
Model median (weighted)
127
vs model median
1.04×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
2
Open investigations
0
Score 69 C