What breaks most · 2006 to 2012 model years
Dodge Caliber problems by year
Owners have filed 1,536 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Dodge Caliber across model years 2006 to 2012. Three years stand out: 2007 for suspension complaints, 2008 for suspension complaints and 2009 for suspension complaints. The quietest years are 2006 and 2010.
- Years to check closely: 2007, 2008, 2009
- Fewest complaints: 2006, 2010
- Complaints on file
- 15362006 to 2012, all trims
- Worst year
- 2007779 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 10028 fires · 83 injuries · 4 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 76kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 10Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Suspension (1) | |
| 779 | 47 | 4 | Suspension (212) | |
| 312 | 21 | 0 | Suspension (89) | |
| 181 | 8 | 1 | Suspension (48) | |
| 117 | 9 | 2 | Electrical system (29) | |
| 110 | 7 | 2 | Air bags (30) | |
| 36 | 8 | 1 | Air bags (16) |
What fails on the 2007 Dodge Caliber
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 27% |
212 | 9 | Shop suspension parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 23% |
177 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 16% |
128 | 1 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 12% |
94 | 5 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 11% |
87 | 6 | Shop steering parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 10% |
79 | 1 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 9% |
70 | 2 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 7% |
53 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2007 Dodge Caliber |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Failed state inspection do to rusted front and rear sub frame with perforation .vehicle has 138 321 miles. Reference chrysler action # 23-012-14. Recall/extended warranty
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Dash warning lights all come on, interior light comes on when using right turn signal, loses power only up to 40mph , sometimes won't start, odometer gauge flapping around, which are current problems,have replaced suspension three times, and replaced computer! Will never purchase a dodge again!
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Subframe rotted away. Causing the drivers side a-arm to rip out. The wheel was at an approximate 90 degree angle from normal position. Caused the driveshaft to pull out of the transmission and the car to immediately stop.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Dodge Caliber years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2007, 2008, 2009 carry the most filings on the Dodge Caliber. The 2007 alone has 779 complaints, led by suspension.
What is the most common Dodge Caliber problem?
On the 2007 model year, the most-reported component is suspension with 212 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Dodge Caliber problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Dodge Caliber complaints that include mileage is about 76,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.