NHTSA vehicle safety data

2010 Dodge Caliber Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2010 Dodge Caliber has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 157 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Dodge Caliber, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2010 Dodge Caliber owner complaints

Owners have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Dodge Caliber, describing incidents dated April 16, 2010 to October 31, 2025.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 32 complaints
Air Bags 31 complaints
Engine 26 complaints
Suspension 26 complaints
Unknown or Other 22 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 18 complaints

Of the 157 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 157 complaints, owners report 15 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11697050 · Filed November 2, 2025
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…
ODI #11655861 · Filed April 21, 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…
ODI #11647386 · Filed March 10, 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…

Read all 157 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Dodge Caliber in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE19-014: Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Closed February 25, 2026

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled

NHTSA #16V668000 · Seat Belts — Pretensioner · NHTSA notice

Reported September 15, 2016 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Potentially affected: 1,435,625 vehicles

Repair completion: 41.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign S61 · Owners notified August 15, 2017 · Vehicles built August 10, 2009 – December 17, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

DOOR LOCK ROD

NHTSA #10V197000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2010 · CHRYSLER GROUP LLC

Potentially affected: 123 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign K09 · Owners notified June 7, 2010 · Vehicles built starting December 4, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 DODGE CALIBER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT DOOR LOCK ROD IN THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR.

Safety consequence

AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF AN UNBELTED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR LOCK ROD AS REQUIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Notes

CHRYSLER'S SAFETY RECALL NO. K09.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2010 Dodge Caliber 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 investigation

157 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Dodge Caliber.

Steering; Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #11697050

Incident: October 31, 2025 · Filed: November 2, 2025

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.

Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #11655861

Incident: February 1, 2025 · Filed: April 21, 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.

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #11647386

Incident: January 9, 2025 · Filed: March 10, 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 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.

Suspension; Structure; Wheels

ODI #11619984

Incident: October 15, 2024 · Filed: October 15, 2024

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?

Air Bags

ODI #11584289

Incident: May 17, 2023 · Filed: April 21, 2024

The air bag lights came on

Suspension

ODI #11581302

Incident: March 26, 2024 · Filed: April 5, 2024

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.

Suspension

ODI #11553074

Incident: October 25, 2023 · Filed: November 1, 2023

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.

Steering; Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #11521788

Incident: May 11, 2023 · Filed: May 12, 2023

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

Air Bags

ODI #11487026

Incident: September 14, 2022 · Filed: September 29, 2022

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11482008

Incident: August 16, 2022 · Filed: August 30, 2022

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

Other Dodge Caliber model years

Check your 2010 Dodge Caliber VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Caliber at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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