Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Dodge Caliber
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Dodge Caliber has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 49 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V668000 Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 17 complaints
- Seat Belts 13 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 7 complaints
- Structure 6 complaints
- Electrical System 5 complaints
- Engine 5 complaints
Of the 49 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 49 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Dodge Caliber has significant issues with airbags and seat belts, reflected in multiple complaints and a notable recall. This results in a below-average reliability rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| seat belts | 50,000–80,000 miles | $150–$400 | very common |
| vehicle speed control | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | common |
| suspension | 60,000–100,000 miles | $250–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Transmission fluid change
- Battery check and replacement
- Coolant replacement
- Suspension inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Faulty seat belt latch
- Delayed throttle response
- Transmission noises
- Uneven tire wear
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Dodge Caliber at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.