Problem Lookup › Dodge › Caliber › 2012
Car problem report
2012 Dodge Caliber problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Dodge Caliber has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 49owner complaints
- 9crash reports
- 3fire reports
- 6injuries reported
Every Dodge Caliber model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
The components named most often in the 49 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Dodge Caliber owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 49 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2012 Dodge Caliber been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seat Belts: Pretensioner 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What do 2012 Dodge Caliber owners report?
12 of the 49 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Rear subframe rotted out, detached at tire arm...see many complaints online
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that there was a rattling noise coming from the front sub frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Due to the subframe rusting on the undercarriage of the car, the lower ball joint completely detached from the car, cause the driver side tire to fall off during operation.
I recently only had my 2012 dodge caliber for a year now and out of that year it’s been giving me problems since I had it! The car had completely shut down on me for weeks while I was in the process of burying my father in law who gave me Covid after he passed. Weeks later we ended up figuring out what the issue was which was the tipm. I remember having to tap the battery with a wire for it to start and it didn’t matter what the weather looked like. Well that didn’t last long because it broke down on me again after I’ve replaced almost everything there was under the hood; the battery, the…
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I RECENTLY BROUGHT A USED VEHICLE, WHEN I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE EVERYTHING RAN SMOOTHLY AND THINGS WERE WORKING JUST FINE, NO PROBLEMS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO USE THE KEYPAD TO LOCK THE DOORS, IT DIDN'T WORK AND ACTUALLY STARTED THE CAR THAN THE ALARM WENT OFF. I HAD TO START THE ENGINE AND SHUT IT BACK OFF AND MANUALLY GO AND LOCK ALL DOORS BECAUSE I ALSO NOTICED THE LOCK DOOR BUTTON ON THE DOOR DID NOT WORK BUT THE WINDOW BUTTONS DOES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEM AND INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. ABOUT 1 WEEK WENT BY AND I…
I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM NORTHTOWN DODGE IN BUFFALO NY IN JAN OF 2019. AS THE WEATHER GOT WARMER MY TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED LITE COMES ON. I CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 50 MILES TOPS WITH OUT IT OVER HEATING. I'M THE SECOND OWNER. I AM FINANCING THIS CAR AND CAN ONLY DRIVE IT LOCALLY. I'VE ALSO READ THAT THERE IS A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THE POWERTRAIN ONLY IF YOUR THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR ONLY HAD 64000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS 69771. SO PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE I AM A DISABLED VETERAN AND THIS CAR IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHEN BRAKING THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES MOMENTARILY. IT DOES NOT STAY ON. THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE COMPLETELY AT THESE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD ANOTHER FOOT OR TWO DESPITE PRESSING THE BRAKE. WHEN BRAKING TODAY THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER WHILE THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IN RESEARCHING THIS, IT SEEMS THE CALIBER SPECIFICALLY HAS A HISTORY OF ETC OR ELECTRIC THROTTLE ISSUES. YEARS AFFECTED BY THIS SAFETY ISSUE INCLUDE 2007 THROUGH 2012; BUT THERE IS NO OFFICIAL RECALL FROM DODGE. THIS IS A RECALL NECESSARY ISSUE! THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF…
MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AUTOMATICALLY UNLATCHES ITSELF. I DON'T HAVE TO BE DOING ANYTHING. I GIVE IT TUG EVERY TIME I BUCKLE TO MAKE SURE IT FASTEN. BUT WHILE DRIVING IT WILL ON IT'S ON COME UNLATCHED AND RELEASED. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND JUST SITTING AT RED LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY REFASTEN IT BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TIME TO RAISE CONCERN IF I WOULD BE SAFE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY CAR ACCIDENT IN APRIL 2017, CAR WAS TOTALED. RECEIVED CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH AS A RESULT OF MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. MY CAR WAS REG MAINTAINED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP ON RIVER DALE RD, OGDEN, UT CALLED IN AND SPOKE WITH A REP (SHAY) 10/09/2017 AND SHE GAVE ME A CASE # 32584117 ...UPDATED 10/13/17 *BF UPDATED 7/26/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (LANDMARK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM, 6850 MT ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
2012 Dodge Caliber: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Dodge Caliber reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Caliber; the most common categories were air bags (17, 34.7%), seat belts (13, 26.5%), vehicle speed control (7, 14.3%). There is 1 safety recall. 9 complaints mention a crash, 3 mention a fire, 6 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
Across 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (34.7% of complaints), seat belts (26.5% of complaints), vehicle speed control (14.3% of complaints), structure (12.2% of complaints), electrical system (10.2% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Dodge Caliber; the most recent (campaign 16V668000, 2016-09-15) concerns Seat Belts: Pretensioner. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have rust or paint problems?
7 of the 49 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Dodge Caliber (14.3%) describe rust, corrosion or peeling paint. One owner wrote: "Due to the subframe rusting on the undercarriage of the car, the lower ball joint completely detached from the car, cause the driver side tire to fall off during operation." (NHTSA complaint 11532427, July 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Caliber
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.