VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Dodge Caliber2007–2012
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Dodge Caliber
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Dodge Caliber Years to Avoid
1 recall · 692 complaints
26 reported injuries
Top issue: SUSPENSION
0 recalls · 300 complaints
14 reported injuries
Top issue: SUSPENSION
1 recall · 181 complaints
5 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Caliber became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 15, 2026.
Dodge Caliber — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 | 49 | 5 | — | 57 | 42 | 52 | Excellent |
| 2011 | 0 | 121 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2010 | 0 | 128 | 11 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2009 | 1 | 181 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2008 | 0 | 300 | 14 | 2 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2007 | 1 | 692 | 26 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Dodge Caliber Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Caliber compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Caliber to buy?+
The 2012 Dodge Caliber scores highest on our Buyer Score (52/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 42/100. It has 0 recalls and 49 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Caliber years have the most problems?+
The 2007, 2008, 2009 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2007 Caliber leads with 1 recalls and 692 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Caliber problems?+
The most frequently reported Dodge Caliber issues involve: SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.