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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2010 Dodge Caliber Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
11%of 157 total for the year
Median mileage
80,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2010 Dodge Caliber, 11% of the 157 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“We got on the freeway for 30mins and the transmission temp light came on. Then it started smelling like something was burning. The car stopped gaining speed and we took it back too the dealership. We feel this car is not safe for the family. There is tapping sounds coming from the dashboard and it happen all the time, even when the car is not running. They need recall this car-”

NHTSA complaint #10625804, filed 2014-08, 89,000 miles

“I've had the arm bar and ball joint replaced twice in a year's time, which causes a grinding noise. I've had the brakes replaced three times along with rattle clips, in the last year, with no prevail in changing the noise nor high speed-braking oscillating. A caliper has also been replaced. While sitting at stop lights, the car unpredictably stalls-- I've tried to reproduce the setting to have the issue happen when a technician tests it, but it appears to happen unpredictably. …”

NHTSA complaint #10980481, filed 2017-04, 90,000 miles

“Ok so let me start by saving lives there is a serious problem with all these Caliber the subframes are rotting in half I know because I have 3 other people who have this stupid car and they rusted in half on them also things to add to this car is there is no upper ball joint which cause the lower control arms to go bad is the shocks are bad I had to replace pretty much everything and also had to replace CVT 20k miles into this hunk of crap CVT is bad and the bands they use are cheap but also seems to be a cooling problem with there set up for transmission with cause them to heat up and burn…”

NHTSA complaint #11373191, filed 2020-11, 178,000 miles

“Transmission failure under 100,00 miles. Took it to 3 different transmission shops and was told that this type of transmission (CVT) , which Dodge only uses for the Caliber is basically junk. Precision said that he's seen so many of these cars for the same problem. They don't rebuild them because of how they are made. I could take a chance on buying a remanufactured one at a cost of 1500.00 plus 650.00 labor and a year or so later have the same problem. Or a brand new one at a cost of 3000-4000 dollars. This is ridiculous. I don't understand why there isn't a recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11122832, filed 2018-08, 100,000 miles

“Takata recall . I had a bad experience on the way home from visiting family about a hr from town I was driving had my air on cause it was extremely hot out side I drove going about 60 to 70 adverage then transmission temp light come on car start slowing down cant go any faster nothing seen gadges going all the way up and nothing foot was all the way down no power so I pull over scared wat the hell wrong with my transmission wat did I do I had no power shut off my car for 20 min point was I was driving on a major highway and for this to happend had no power to my car I could of got hit…”

NHTSA complaint #10995258, filed 2017-06, 13,600 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012510%
20111710%
20101711%
20096428%
20083710%
2007809%

Other parts of the 2010 Dodge Caliber

Electrical system
32 complaints
Air bags
31 complaints
Suspension
26 complaints
Other or unknown
22 complaints
Engine
20 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Seat belts
15 complaints
Steering
12 complaints
Fuel system
11 complaints
Body and structure
10 complaints
Exterior lighting
7 complaints
Electronic stability control
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2010 Dodge Caliber

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology