2012 Dodge CALIBER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,284 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 49 complaints (34.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 10.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Seat Belts | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
Air Bags: 17; Seat Belts: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Suspension: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 15; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10477459 · 2012-09-28 (September 28, 2012)
A CAR HIT US IN THE PASSENGER DOOR WE ROLLED AND SLID AND NONE OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542603 · 2013-09-09 (September 9, 2013)
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 BALL JOINT , AND EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM. NOW BEING SAID THAT THIS BRAND NEW CAR HAS HAD A BAD BALL JOINT FOR QUITE SOME MILES THIS COULD BE THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO FAIL!! I HAVE BEEN HEARING FAINT POPPING/CLICKING NOISES SINCE AROUND 10000 MILES!!…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10542603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543786 · 2013-09-16 (September 16, 2013)
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 DOWN A STEEP HILL THROUGH TREES, WITH BODY DAMAGE. IT WAS STOPPED BY TREES AND WINCHED OUT OF THE WOODS. DID NOT HIT NEIGHBORS HOUSE BELOW AND NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR TO BE INJURED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544259 · 2013-09-18 (September 18, 2013)
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 HILL HILL CRASHING THROUGH BACK YARD FOREST. TREES EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES AND A PUBLIC ROAD WERE AT THE BASE OF HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. TIED CAR OFF TO A TREE TO PREVENT ROLL OVER. CAR IS NOW AT A DODGE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546385 · 2013-10-01 (October 1, 2013)
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 NUMBER OF LATE MODEL CARS UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF SHIFTER ASSEMBLY DEFECTS AND POTENTIAL FOR 'ROLL AWAY'. THE CAR REMAINS AT THE DEALERSHIP, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AWAITING A NEW SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND CABLE ON ORDER. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT WARRANTY…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576225 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
I NOTICE WHERE EVER MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OR MORE, WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDING/RUBBING WHEREAS IT VIBRATES THE CAR. NOW YOU MAY SAY THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORN BUT THEY'RE NOT. I'VE HAD THEM INSPECTED AND THE PADS ARE GOOD. I'VE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DODGE CO AND WAS GIVEN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'VE ASK A COUPLEOF DODGE CALIBER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS PERSON HAD HIGH MILEAGE ON THEIR VEHICLE, EVEN A ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585180 · 2014-04-28 (April 28, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608835 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
REAR SPEED SENSOR WENT MESSING WITH TRACTION CONTROL CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEM NONE OF THEM WORKING SUE TO ONE SENSOR ON ONE WHEEL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER A WHEEL BEARING HUB WENT AND GOT REPLACED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608835 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V668000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags
Reported: 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
NHTSA campaign record ↗