Avoid: 2007 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2006 (few owner reports)
6 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 5 model years, the Dodge Caliber has 1,889 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are suspension and electrical system. 2007 drew the most complaints (958), 2010 the fewest (157).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Dodge Caliber vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $4,489–$6,989.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2007 (958 complaints). Lowest: 2010 (157).
Overwhelmingly negative sentiment based on long-term owner reports. The vehicle is widely characterized as unreliable, poorly built, and a poor value proposition, even at very low purchase prices.
Complete loss of power, failure to engage gears, overheating, whining noise at highway speeds, throwing P0700 diagnostic codes. Described as a very common point of catastrophic failure.
Erratic dashboard behavior (lights illuminating, gauges spinning), vehicle entering limp mode, repeated failure of the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), numerous communication error codes (U0100, U0141, etc.).
Serpentine belt failures, premature failure of water pumps, alternators, and other accessory components. Engine noises suggesting internal valvetrain problems.
Difficulty shifting into gear, inability to engage any gear, slave or master cylinder failure, dramatically changing clutch engagement point.
Interior described as cramped with poor ergonomics (knee room, pedal placement), extremely thick pillars creating major blind spots, low-quality interior materials.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Caliber. Individual model years are broken down above.
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