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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2011 Dodge Caliber Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
10%of 165 total for the year
Median mileage
67,000miles
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 2011 Dodge Caliber, 10% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,000 miles.

Example complaints

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

“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

“As I am on the highway and traveling at a speed of 70 to 75 the car suddenly start loosing speed to the point I need to put my blink and stop in the side of the rood, then I have to turn it of and turn it back on and start heading, this happens regularly. On a trip of a distance of 90 miles I have to do that like 3 times. Its dangerous because of the vehicles behind me that are traveling at that same speed can come and crash behind me.”

NHTSA complaint #11118322, filed 2018-08, 145,833 miles

“I have a 2011 Dodge Caliber and it just turned over 100,000 miles. Was driving home form work and started to make a noise. I took it to the garage and told me the bearings in the transmission our going out. It is a 5 speed”

NHTSA complaint #11166578, filed 2019-01, 100,000 miles

“I have been noticing slipping between gears. I tried taking off from a stop light and it wouldn't go any faster than 15 MPH almost getting hit from behind. Then the RPM would accelerate however speedometer wouldn't justify the increase. Also it's sounding weird, kind of like vacuum. But definitely loss of power and sucking up gas . This is a serious problem and judging by all the other reviews/complaints, I'm not the only one with this problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10853766, filed 2016-04, 91,000 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

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

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

Other parts of the 2011 Dodge Caliber

Air bags
36 complaintsSuspension
30 complaintsEngine
26 complaintsSeat belts
25 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsElectronic stability control
11 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsBrakes
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Dodge Caliber

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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