2010 Dodge Caliber Owner Complaints

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.

NHTSA ID

11697050

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11655861

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Mileage

103,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11647386

Incident

Jan 9, 2025

Mileage

115,000 mi

Severe rust to vehicle frame COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE, no accident. Rust has corroded frame despite normal use and normal care. Vehicle hasn't reached 75k miles yet, and the frame is failing. How is this not a recall?

NHTSA ID

11619984

Incident

Oct 15, 2024

The air bag lights came on

NHTSA ID

11584289

Incident

May 17, 2023

The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at various speeds, she heard an abnormal sound and felt a vibration in the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that he had also noticed the failure while test-driving the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear cross member was severely rusted and had fractured. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,200.

NHTSA ID

11581302

Incident

Mar 26, 2024

Mileage

77,200 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while making a right turn at 10 MPH, the vehicle kept turning. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot where it was observed that the passenger’s side front axle had separated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cross member needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11553074

Incident

Oct 25, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

Subframe rusty and broke while driving car went left almost causing a head on coalition

NHTSA ID

11521788

Incident

May 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where an unknown diagnosis and repair were completed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,883.

NHTSA ID

11487026

Incident

Sep 14, 2022

Mileage

153,883 mi

The airbag light on the dashboard kept going on and off with a ring when it came on.

NHTSA ID

11482008

Incident

Aug 16, 2022

Noticed the vehicle was making creaking and grinding sounds from the rear suspension. This forcing the car to struggle to reverse. Noticed a large portion of the rear suspension/subframe was rusted and was cracking.

NHTSA ID

11475585

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, she lost control of her vehicle. The contact stated that she crashed into a pole, however, the air bag did not deploy. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated at the time. The contact stated that no medical attention was needed, and no police report was made. The contact stated that she then had the vehicle towed to her residence where it remained in her possession. The contact stated that she then contacted the dealer, as well as the manufacturer who advised her to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 189,000.

NHTSA ID

11464499

Incident

Apr 27, 2022

Mileage

189,000 mi

I took my car to my repair man he was trying to see why my tires had the steel treads showing and the car shaking. Once up on the lift he found the subframe was rusted out. He ordered a new frame which took all my savings. He was surprised I made it off the expressway without an accident.

NHTSA ID

11457378

Incident

Mar 12, 2022

I forgot to tell you that the control arms on both sides and lower ball joints on both sides went bad because of the rotted frame on the car where the A frame sits is loose because of the rotted frame I grew up at the beach area and we never had rotted frames on any of the cars that we had dodge should have told people about the rotted frames and they are responsible that's how I feel about it what's it going to take for them to be held accountable people don't need to die or get serious injured because they did nothing about the rotted frames they should have been able to recall the cars they sold and said something about the frames getting rotted

NHTSA ID

11451629

Incident

Feb 3, 2022

I went to mavis to get new tires for my car they showed me the frame car is not repairable and they showed me the back frame under neith the car and also showed me the rotted frame that's 2 places that's rotted I hope dodge dealer will replace the rotted frames some one can get killed because of the rotted frames and I think dodge should recall the cars and put new frames on their cars for free

NHTSA ID

11451624

Incident

Feb 12, 2022

Driver's side headlight stopped working and the bulb is still good. Called the dealership and apparently this is a common problem they know that they r trying to charge 1200 dollors to fix. They should have to fix the headlights because it's the manufacturers fault that they don't work correctly. Can't drive this car anymore cause you can't see to drive at night. Because the headlights don't work and it's not because of the bulbs. It's the manufacturers installation that was done wrong..

NHTSA ID

11444082

Incident

Dec 9, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,807.

NHTSA ID

11413988

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

186,807 mi

I NOTICED ON MY 2010 DODGE CALIBER THAT MY FRAME THAT ATTACHES JUST BEHIND THE OIL PAN IS REALLY RUSTY!! I THINK IT IS FROM THE PLACEMENT OF THE AC DRAIN HOSE POINTS DOWN RIGHT ON TOP OF IT. IT HAS SLOWLY DETERIORATE OF THE YEARS FROM RUNNING AC THESE LAST FEW HOT SUMMERS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR DON'T WANT IT TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11404589

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT WITH VISIBLE HOLES. MANUFACTURER ONLY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DID NOT ISSUE RECALL. I JUST FOUND OUT AND TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER COSTS. TONS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AS IT IS LISTED AS FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION (X69 WARRANTY EXTENSION) - 2008-2012 DODGE CALIBER & JEEP COMPASS/PATRIOT> TONS OF OWNERS ARE FURIOUS AND TRYING TO GET HELP ON THIS SERIOUS ISSUE THAT CAN EASILY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AND EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11387015

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

Mileage

101,000 mi

FRAME RUSTED, BROKE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

11386686

Incident

Sep 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS) AT MAGUIRE DODGE RAM OF SYRACUSE (959 HIAWATHA BLVD W, SYRACUSE, NY 13204, (844) 327-8693) THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11385258

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

78,000 mi

MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HASN'T STARTED AGAIN I HAVE A NO BUS ERROR ON THE ODOMETER AND I CHANGED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND STILL WON'T START BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS STILL WORK

NHTSA ID

11384888

Incident

Nov 22, 2020

HORN ISNT WORKING AT ALL. CHECKED HORN TO SEE IF IT WAS BROKEN , REMOVED AND TESTED ON ANOTHER TRUCK, THEY WORKED. CHECKED FUSES AND THERE IS NO POWER TO ETHER FUSE. THERE IS NO HORN RELAY. IT IS PART OF THE TIPM. THE RELAY IS ON THE TIPM UNIT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WHEN I FOUND OUT THE HORN FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11376420

Incident

Nov 16, 2020

Mileage

66,000 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS GOING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF I AM ON A HIGHWAY FOR A DISTANCE THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF UNTIL I BRAKE OR HIT A SMALL BUMP THEN IT WILL DING AND COME ON AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IT WILL GO OFF AND ON QUITE A BIT.

NHTSA ID

11373885

Incident

Oct 23, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11373191

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

178,000 mi