AI DamageDodge Caliber AWD reliability: problems, complaints, recalls
Summary for the Dodge Caliber AWD across 2 model years: 91 owner complaints and 0 manufacturer service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 34% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- Suspension: 31 complaints (34% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 18 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 14 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 14 complaints (15% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 9 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 91 US owner complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 31 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of US owner complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by the regulator; personal data removed.
Air bags did not deploy, seat belts were intact and working. Previously, seat belts were found to unlatch at times when driver was in car and car was in motion. Amazed that seat belts worked because it saved our lives. Airbags did not deploy.
3.) first brake failure was about a year after buying the car and was due to the booster cylinder and master cylinder failing. Ourisman dodge put me into a rental car for about 10 days.
Airbags did not deploy. Driver fractured back in 2 locations has also incurred neck and leg injuries.
Rear crossmember subframe rusted and broken causing driveshaft and the rear differential to shift during acceleration. Noticed a thumbing sound when driving on local city street at approximately 25 mph on dec. 12, 2018.
This vehicle's engine will stall multiple times after the fuel tank has been filled to capacity. The stalls occur while idling, and/or when driving and they can happen without warning while in the middle of traffic or in the middle of a turn.
In 2018 the car became very unstable and found the cross structure in the rear was so corroded and rusted it cracked in half. She, I, and others could have been killed. And I see now 100's of others that has the same problem. What do we do about this? Eat $5,000.00 ? This needs to be taken care of..
When owners complained
US owner complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public official US data: service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by the regulator, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-10.