Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 Dodge Caliber problems
Owners filed 157 complaints about the 2010 Dodge Caliber with NHTSA between Apr 2010 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (32).
Complaints
157
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system32
- Air bags31
- Suspension26
- Engine20
- Vehicle speed control18
- Power train17
- Seat belts15
- Steering12
- Structure10
- Exterior lighting7
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Electronic stability control (esc)6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Wheels3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
5
5
15
25
7
21
20
11
14
12
5
7
2
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
32 reports
“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
31 reports7 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Suspension
26 reports
“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.”
Engine
20 reports1 fire
“2010 DODGE CALIBER WITH HEADLIGHT FAILURES CAUSED BY FAULTY FUSE BOX (TIPM). I REPLACE BULBS AND ONE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT LIGHT LOW BEAM OR HIGH BEAM. ALL THE FUSES ARE GOOD. IT HAS ALSO AFFECTED HOW THE CAR RUNS AND HAS STALLED ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE 4TH OR FIFTH INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR, HEADLIGHTS, STALLING, TURN SIGNALS, AIR BAG INDICATORS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK MOVING OR SITTING STILL AND TURN SIGNALS.”
Vehicle speed control
18 reports1 crash1 fire
“WHEN I START MY CAR, IT STARTS JUST FINE AND THEN ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE CHECK SIGN WILL COME ON FOLLOWED BY A RED LIGHTING BOLD ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT COMES ON EITHER PARKED OR DRIVING IN A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTS MAKING LOUD NOISES, SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND SPEED REDUCES, SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M STILL DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET. IT SORT OF STARTS FORCING ITSELF TO MOVE WHILE IN MOTION. WHILE THE LIGHT IS STILL ON, IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO OR THE LIGHT IS GREEN, WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PADDLE THE CAR SORT OF TRIES TO MOVE WITH PUSHES, JUST AS THOUGH SOMEONE WAS PUSHING IT WHILE PARKED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MOVES WITH SPEED. TO RESOLVE IT, I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF OCCASIONALLY , WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN START IT FOR THE CAR TO DRIVE NORMALLY ONCE AGAIN UNTIL THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT COMES ON AGAIN. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHETHER PARKED OR IN MOTION. AT TIMES I'D STILL BE DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN THE LIGHTNING SIGN COMES ON, THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE STILL ON DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I'VE TAKEN IT…”
Power train
17 reports
“OK SO LET ME START BY SAVING LIVES THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE CALIBER THE SUBFRAMES ARE ROTTING IN HALF I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE 3 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS STUPID CAR AND THEY RUSTED IN HALF ON THEM ALSO THINGS TO ADD TO THIS CAR IS THERE IS NO UPPER BALL JOINT WHICH CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO GO BAD IS THE SHOCKS ARE BAD I HAD TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CVT 20K MILES INTO THIS HUNK OF CRAP CVT IS BAD AND THE BANDS THEY USE ARE CHEAP BUT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COOLING PROBLEM WITH THERE SET UP FOR TRANSMISSION WITH CAUSE THEM TO HEAT UP AND BURN FLUIDS CHRYSLER SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS CRAP AND HONESTLY YOU WILL SEE ALOT MORE OF THESE CARS CAUSING PEOPLE TO DIE SERIOUSLY TAKE A LOOK ONLINE AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES IT'S PRETTY SICKING TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL AIN'T DOING YOUR JOB MY 30 YEAR OLD CAMARO SUBFRAME NEVER ROTTED LIKE THIS AND SAT AND DRIVEN IN ALL WEATHER”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.