2011 Dodge Caliber Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Dodge Caliber most often write about the engine cutting out or losing throttle response while driving, often with the electronic throttle control light on and often solved temporarily by restarting the car. The second theme is a rusted front crossmember and subframe, reported at higher mileage in states that use road salt, and a number of owners also describe air bags that did not deploy or seat belts that did not hold in a crash.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses throttle response (ETC light)

   • 50 complaints (30%)
   • median 38,617 mi at 3.7 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at any speed, sometimes from a stop or mid-turn, sometimes at 55-75 mph on the highway. In many cases the electronic throttle control and check engine lights come on, the gas pedal stops responding, and the car drops to a crawl or coasting speed until it is shut off and restarted. Several owners say dealers replaced the throttle body, the gas pedal or the computer, or could not duplicate the problem at all. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles up to about 150,000 miles, with many cases between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, at city and highway speeds alike.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or powertrain software has been replaced or reprogrammed, and check for stored codes. During a test drive, watch for an ETC or check engine light and confirm the pedal responds smoothly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car while traveling the engine will suddenly race and loose power and will stall. The only solution is to sop the car put in park and restart the engine. Highly dangerous on a crowed road or making turns. I have taken the car to three different dealerships and now the car is at james brown Dodge in tampa, fl and I am renting a car until they fix this car again. The car has been fixed by this dealer and two other dealership with no solution.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661209, filed 2014-11, 64,000 miles

   “I was driving on a highway going about 55-60mph when lights on my dash came on and my RPM dropped drastically. All of the sudden I could not accelerate and my car lost speed almost instantly. The first incident I was able to pull off the road to safety. This issue continued a few times after and finally it caused another vehicle to hit the rear bumper of my car. There was no damage or injury since we were at a slow speed but it could have been worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10648198, filed 2014-10, 68,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rusted front crossmember / subframe

   • 31 complaints (19%)
   • median 119,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Complaints describe the front crossmember or subframe rusting through with holes and cracks, sometimes found during a routine service visit or after a clunk, popping or vibration from the front end. Owners report the wheel pulling, tires wearing out quickly, or the steering arm fracturing once the metal has rotted. A service bulletin describes a warranty extension for crossmember corrosion inspection, and owners say they were told the coverage had already expired. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 160,000 miles, often in states and provinces that use road salt.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the car put on a lift and inspect the front and rear crossmembers and subframe for perforation and heavy rust before buying, especially if it lived in a snowy region. Ask whether the X69 crossmember inspection was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I brought my car into suburban tire on 02.06.21 for a stearing wheel shacking issue.it wasn't till after it was fixed that I still had issues. Brought it back and was told about the front sub frame as rusted out and chrysler extended warranty expired 3 months ago. Why???? This is a safty issue and could have killed me or my family all because they choose not do a recall!!!!! Very angry and now I don't have $2-$3k to get it fixed!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11416572, filed 2021-05, 77,000 miles

   “Took car into dealership for routine oil change, tire rotation was informed front cross member completely rusted through, also both rear upper lateral links and both rear toe links and bolts are loose and worn . My car has 68,000 miles on it cost for this repair 1,360 dollars . I am on limited disability why doesn't auto makers recall this, as they did the other years? I am told it is because they don't feel responsible as I live in michigan and the salt does this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11170255, filed 2019-01, 68,191 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front-end vibration, shimmy and uneven tire wear

   • 37 complaints (22%)
   • median 63,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners describe shaking or vibration through the steering wheel and front end at highway speeds, a car that pulls left or right, and tires that wear out unevenly within months. Some complaints say struts and shocks were found worn prematurely, and others that a wheel alignment could not be performed because of steering or frame problems. Several connect the vibration to the rusted crossmember issue. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 147,000 miles, most often on highway driving and noted as a gradual worsening.

   Recall 11V3150002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive it at 55-65 mph and feel for wheel shimmy, look at tire wear across the tread, and ask for an alignment report and a look at the struts, tie rods and crossmember.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving home from work around 8:15pm. On wednesday, february 12th, 2014. I was making a left hand turn onto one of the streets the leads me to my home as I always do. As I am making the left turn I felt my steering wheel losing control as I am turning and the car shifting to the left of the road onto on coming traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10574405, filed 2014-03, 53,850 miles

   “Starting january 2019, I had spent $5k of underbody replacement: bent/rusty axle-f, 2 f-tires; front brakes & shocks, rear rotors, brakes & shocks, front & rear arms. The rear right wheel was locked & I was driving that way with both of my young grandchildren 3 months after I had tires replaced. I kept being told by a friend & my son, 'have you had your car fixed yet?' the suspension sucked; I felt every bump & pothole! The noise in the front to right took over a year to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11319563, filed 2020-03, 115 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags or seat belts not deploying in a crash

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners report frontal impacts in which none of the air bags deployed, and in some cases the seat belt did not lock or released on its own. Complaints also mention an air bag warning light staying lit and a dashboard electrical outage where the air bag light came on and the belt would not lock. A recall covers the occupant restraint control module possibly short-circuiting and preventing air bag and pretensioner deployment. Reported from around 27,000 to 180,000 miles, usually described after a collision rather than as an everyday symptom.

   Recall 16V6680002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 16V668000 (occupant restraint control module) was completed, and check that the air bag light goes out after the bulb check and that both front belts latch and retract properly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this car january 26, 2016. 2 weeks after purchase I contacted the dealer because a weird noise came out of the bottom of the car, like a clink. I was told nothing is wrong, that the car was thoroughly inspected prior to sell and according to them, everything was fine. I suffered a minor crash 3 weeks later on the drivers' side front near the tire with my family and seatbelts did not work, nor airbags were deployed. Because the accident happened in tijuana mexico I could not report it to the insurance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10993784, filed 2017-06, 27,500 miles

   “The vehicle was involved in an accident. The vehicle was going approximately 50 MPH and jumped a ditch and struck a pole on the front driver side of the vehicle. The front driver side of vehicle was pushed up to the windshield. The force of the impact caused the driver to bend the steering wheel by impact. None of the airbags deployed at any point during this.*dt*jb the consumer provided photos of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383597, filed 2020-12, 180,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT limp mode and transmission fault light

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 57,780 mi at 4.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe the transmission warning light coming on and the car dropping into limp mode, limited to low speed until it cools or is restarted. Some cases are tied to hot weather and sustained highway driving with the air conditioning on, and others to jerking or harsh shifting after routine service. Dealers reportedly told owners to pull over and let the transmission cool. Often reported above about 67,000 miles, with several complaints describing hot-weather highway trips over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, include a stretch of highway driving with the air conditioning on and watch for a transmission light or sluggish response. Ask whether the CVT fluid has been serviced and whether any transmission codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got my oil change done at 67,000 miles and since then my car jerks and feels weird when I drive it. I'm worried that it may stall on me when driving on the highway or city and that's dangerous for my kids and others on the road. Please investigate the transmission as it's made by nissan and nissan has a lot of problems with their cvts.”

   NHTSA complaint #11156968, filed 2018-12, 67,000 miles

   “We bought the car new in 2011, since then every summer when we travel more than 30 miles on the hwy when its over 110 degrees out the transmission light goes on and car goes into limp mode (CVT transmission). I have been to dealer multiple times for this and advised that Dodge knows and that I am to pull over and let it cool down. We live in lake havasu city, az where its over 110 degree's 3 or more months of the year. My wife was coming back from road trip on I-40 on june 21 and car went into limp mode and wouldn't go 10mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11003480, filed 2017-07, 81,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the front and rear crossmembers for rust and verify that recall 16V668000 was performed before buying this model year. A longer test drive at highway speed with the air conditioning on is worthwhile, since owners most often describe stalling, throttle drop-out and transmission limp mode under those conditions.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.