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#BS-2012-DODCAL-62AD

2012 Dodge CaliberProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 80 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
80
Crashes
16
Fires
3
Recalls
1
TSBs
100
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 80 complaints, 16 crashes, 3 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

electrical short started fire

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

airbags didnt deploy in collision

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
3

roll away car-defective shifter

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

power windows not working properly

2 complaints • Severity 5/10

$X,XXX
5

120v accessory power inverter stopped working

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

17 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 68K miles.

!Inspect the Seat BeltsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

8
0–30K
12
30–60K
12
60–90K
9
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (12 reports) • Median: 68K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (17 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags17 (21%)
Seat Belts13 (16%)
Speed Control7 (9%)
Electrical5 (6%)
Engine5 (6%)
Drivetrain5 (6%)
Structure:body5 (6%)
Suspension5 (6%)

2012 Dodge Caliber: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 21% of all reports filed for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, with 17 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 68,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 68K-mile mark.

Seat Belts Issues

Seat Belts complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, with 13 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
12
9
13
5
14
5
15
5
16
26
17
4
18
4
19
7
20
1
21
5
22
6
23
1
24
1
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Dodge Caliber. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

16V668000Aug 2017

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2012 Dodge Caliber NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

3 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

3 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE19014ClosedOpened Sep 2019 · closed Feb 2026

Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

SEATS

The worst model year for the Dodge Caliber is the 2007 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is suspension.

2012 Dodge Caliber vs. Class Average (Small Station Wagons)

This vehicle

80

Class avg

100

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small station wagons vehicles from 2012.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 80 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Dodge Caliber Model Years

201220112010200920082007
View all Dodge Caliber years →

2012 Dodge Caliber: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Dodge Caliber is related to the airbags, with 17 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2012 Dodge Caliber reliable?
The 2012 Dodge Caliber has 80 complaints, 16 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA rates the 2012 Dodge Caliber 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 3 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2012 Dodge Caliber problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have any recalls?
Yes, the 2012 Dodge Caliber has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Caliber problems start?
Based on 41 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 68,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2012 Dodge Caliber data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 80 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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