2010 Dodge Caliber problems & reliability
157 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Dodge Caliber, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
9 complaints report injuries (15 injured, 2 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2010 Dodge Caliber vehicles were involved in 29 fatal crashes with 18 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 32 | 20% |
| Air Bags | 31 | 20% |
| Suspension | 26 | 17% |
| Unknown OR Other | 22 | 14% |
| Engine | 20 | 13% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 11% |
| Power Train | 17 | 11% |
| Seat Belts | 15 | 10% |
| Steering | 12 | 8% |
| Structure | 10 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 78,000 miles (middle 50% between 52,500 and 109,000 miles), based on 113 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Suspension · filed Nov 2, 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…”
Electrical System · filed Apr 21, 2025
“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…”
Air Bags · filed Mar 10, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Preliminary Evaluation PE19014 · opened Sep 9, 2019 · closed Feb 25, 2026
Technical service bulletins
44 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2010 Dodge Caliber. The 10 most recent:
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service…
9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 15, 2023
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service…
9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 15, 2023
Lubrication and Maintenance Fluids If MOPAR fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review Service Library for specifications so a suitable alternative can be used
9100196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 27, 2023
If a Mopar oil filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36 specification and is compatible with semi and full synthetic oils.
S2209000004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 2, 2022
Oil Filter If a Mopar Oil Filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36 specification and is compatible with semi and full synthetic oils. Recommended Brands: Wix, Purolator, and NapaGold
9004509 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 30, 2022
Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number…
9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 7, 2021
Warranty Bulletin D-20-21 (X91) Active Head Restraint - Select 2010 Dodge Journey (JC), Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring (JS), Dodge Nitro (KA), Jeep Liberty (KK), Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot (MK), Dodge Caliber (PM), Dodge…
71063 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 17, 2020
Warranty Bulletin D-20-21 (X91) Active Head Restraint - Select 2010 Dodge Journey (JC), Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring (JS), Dodge Nitro (KA), Jeep Liberty (KK), Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot (MK), Dodge Caliber (PM), Dodge…
70726 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 7, 2020
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X91 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting the sled bracket striker pin and possibly replacing a front seat AHR that has inadvertently deployed…
23-033-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 5, 2020
Warranty Bulletin D-20-18 (X86) Active Head Restraint - Select 2010-2017 Jeep Compass (MK) and 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber (PM)
69919 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 11, 2020
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2010 Dodge Caliber has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2010 Dodge Caliber?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 78,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.