2012 Dodge CALIBER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Dodge CALIBER has 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: a car hit us in the passenger door we rolled and slid and none of the side curtain air bags went off. *tr. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
80
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
17 complaints- • A CAR HIT US IN THE PASSENGER DOOR WE ROLLED AND SLID AND NONE OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
- • I WAS IN A ACCCIDENT WHERE THERE WAS A CAR THAT STOPPED ON HIS BRAKES QUICKLY, AND I HIT THE BACK OF HIM AND MY CAR FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIRBAG DIDNT SUPRESS DURING THE ACCIDENT CAUSING ME AND MY FIANCEE TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *JS
- • I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY WHERE I HIT A GUARD RAIL PRETTY HARD AND DEAD ON. AT THE TIME I WAS GOING 35 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS VERY BOTHERSOME AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE NOT STARTING ALL THE TIME WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. I
“A CAR HIT US IN THE PASSENGER DOOR WE ROLLED AND SLID AND NONE OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
14 complaints- • I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY WHERE I HIT A GUARD RAIL PRETTY HARD AND DEAD ON. AT THE TIME I WAS GOING 35 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS VERY BOTHERSOME AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE NOT STARTING ALL THE TIME WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. I
- • I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING MY 2012 DODGE CALIBER, REGARDING A LOSS OF AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY DURING A CRASH DUE TO SHORTING CONDITION RESULTING IN NEGATIVE VOLTAGE TRANSIENT THAT TRAVELS TO THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER VIA THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WIRE
- • THE RECALL DESCRIBES PROBLEMS WITH THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, AND SAFETY BELT RESTRAINT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD ME THEY HAD DEEMED THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION BEFORE THEY WOULD CONSIDER GIVING ME
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY WHERE I HIT A GUARD RAIL PRETTY HARD AND DEAD ON. AT THE TIME I WAS GOING 35 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS VERY BOTHERSOME AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE NOT STARTING ALL THE TIME WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. I ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
7 complaints- • IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM ANY POSITION. DRIVE, NEUTRAL, REVERSE OR ANY. THIS LETS VEHICLE KEY BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN PARK POSITION. THE 2012 DODGE CALIBER CAN JUST ROLL AWAY. CAUGHT CAR A FEW TIMES ROLLING. NOW HAD A VERY RECENT SERIOUS CRASH. IT WAS SITTING BEHIND HOUSE AND ROLLED
- • MY DODGE CALIBER 2012 SXT STILL UNDER WARRANTY HAD A FAILED MANUFACTURER COMPONENT, THE 'SHIFT INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY' WHICH CONTROLS DRIVE, PARK, REVERSE, NUETRAL AND ALL TRANSMISSION SETTINGS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON BLACKTOP AREA BEHIND MY HOUSE AND ROLLED FORWARD. IT PLUNGED HEADFIRST DOWN A STEEP H
- • MT 2012 DODGE CALIBER HAD A ROLL AWAY INCIDENT ON 9/6/2103 WHEN PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. IT ROLLED AND THEN DOVE DOWN A VERY STEEP HILL WITH TREES WHICH EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE CAR ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE A NUM
“IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM ANY POSITION. DRIVE, NEUTRAL, REVERSE OR ANY. THIS LETS VEHICLE KEY BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN PARK POSITION. THE 2012 DODGE CALIBER CAN JUST ROLL AWAY. CAUGHT CAR A FEW TIMES ROLLING. NOW HAD A VERY RECENT SERIOUS CRASH. IT WAS SITTING BEHIND HOUSE AND ROLLED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
6 complaints- • LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DOING OIL CHANGE NOTICED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR
- • Lately I have noticed a wobble when I drive on the highway. Saturday, 07/24/2021, I took my 2012 Dodge Caliber with only 74,753 miles on it to the mechanics for an alignment, rotation and weight balance on the car. This is not my first time at the mechanics and they had seen the car in the Summer
- • Subframe on the vehicle at 90,000 was found to have SEVERE huge rotted holes in the subframe that is supporting the engine. This can allow the engine to drop out of the vehicle at any given moment and cost to repair is $1200 which is insane.
“LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DOING OIL CHANGE NOTICED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
5 complaints- • MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 23000 MILES ON IT AND STILL UNDER STANDARD WARRANTY. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH & 1/2 OR SO THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NEARLY EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH, ALL HAVING TO DO WITH SUSPENSION AND STEERING. STRUTS WERE LEAKING, CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED, SWAY BARS, STABILIZER BAR, ALONG WITH BAL
- • PER THE X69 WARRANTY NOTICE I HAD THE CROSSMEMBER REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT DODGE DOES NOT COVER THE ALIGNMENT THAT IS NEEDED DUE TO THE CROSSMEMBER REPAIR. THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT CAUSED THE NEED FOR THE ALIGNMENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SCAM
- • LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DOING OIL CHANGE NOTICED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR
“MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 23000 MILES ON IT AND STILL UNDER STANDARD WARRANTY. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH & 1/2 OR SO THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NEARLY EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH, ALL HAVING TO DO WITH SUSPENSION AND STEERING. STRUTS WERE LEAKING, CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED, SWAY BARS, STABILIZER BAR, ALONG WITH BAL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 80 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: A CAR HIT US IN THE PASSENGER DOOR WE ROLLED AND SLID AND NONE OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY WHERE I HIT A GUARD RAIL PRETTY HARD AND DEAD ON. AT THE TIME I WAS GOING 35 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS VERY BOTHERSOME AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE NOT STARTING ALL THE TIME WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM ANY POSITION. DRIVE, NEUTRAL, REVERSE OR ANY. THIS LETS VEHICLE KEY BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN PARK POSITION. THE 2012 DODGE CALIBER CAN JUST ROLL AWAY. CAUGHT CAR A FEW TIMES ROLLING. NOW HAD A VERY RECENT SERIOUS CRASH. IT WAS SITTING BEHIND HOUSE AND ROLLED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DOING OIL CHANGE NOTICED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge CALIBER — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 80
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 14
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Dodge CALIBER