Skip to content
Dodge CaliberModel year report

2012 Dodge Caliber Problems

Compared with other Dodge Caliber years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

16/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
49filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,284miles, 28 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
3 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Dodge Caliber (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 49 consumer complaints for the 2012 Dodge Caliber. The part named most often is air bags, with 17 complaints (35% of the total), followed by seat belts (13) and vehicle speed control (7). 28 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,284 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 100 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part. Seat belts complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Dodge Caliber model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 16 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (2), Fuel system (2), Steering (2), Brakes (1), Seats (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I was involved in a car accident on thursday where I hit a guard rail pretty hard and dead on. At the time I was going 35 MPH in the pouring rain. My airbags never deployed. This is very bothersome as I have had issues with this car before not starting all the time when I first purchased the car. I had bumper damage, the right head light was damaged and my neck was sliced by the seatbelt!”

NHTSA complaint #10639697, filed 2014-09, 72,000 miles

Seat belts: “My drivers side seat belt automatically unlatches itself. I don't have to be doing anything. I give it tug every time I buckle to make sure it fasten. But while driving it will on it's on come unlatched and released. It has happened while driving and just sitting at red light. I immediately refasten it but this has happened enough time to raise concern if I would be safe in the event of an accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11098958, filed 2018-05, 92,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “My oils and fluid levels were fine. I have about 74,000 on my vehicle, and just had a recent oil change about 300 miles or so ago. While driving around 35 MPH on a local street, my vehicle''s check engine light and ABS light came on. The steering went out and I immediately lost the ability to steer or maintain speed. I coasted my vehicle into a wendy's. I immediately restarted my car, and made it into the parking lot before losing the ability to steer and manage my speed, again. I managed to get it the 2 miles or so home. I got it towed, and I am waiting to hear from the dealership.”

NHTSA complaint #10926370, filed 2016-11, 74,000 miles

Body and structure: “Front and back subframes of car are/were rusted. The front was replaced last year and the rear needs to be done. I'm waiting for an estimate for that. Pic shows the rust taken by my mechanic 2 weeks ago..”

NHTSA complaint #11529609, filed 2023-06

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 28 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.

14%0–100%10–2511%25–5036%50–7532%75–1007%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (28 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,284 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’13’15’1715’19’21’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Dodge Caliber. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Caliber · sedan FWD★★★☆☆4 / 4314 · 15.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2011: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Dodge Caliber version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Caliber FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual243127$2,500
Caliber FWD2.0L 4-cylCVT232724$2,800
Caliber FWD2.4L 4-cylCVT222724$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Dodge Caliber → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 100 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 100 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Caliber

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20124970,284132416 · FewerFalling
201116561,710232568 · MoreFalling
201015778,0002—2546 · TypicalFalling
200923280,0001—2466 · MoreFalling
200836085,5000—2450 · TypicalFalling
200788483,0004—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Dodge Caliber model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have?

NHTSA recorded 49 consumer complaints for the 2012 Dodge Caliber as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Dodge Caliber is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 17 complaints (35% of the total), followed by seat belts with 13.

Has the 2012 Dodge Caliber been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Dodge Caliber do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Dodge Caliber 3 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Dodge Caliber get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Dodge Caliber (Caliber, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 23 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Dodge Caliber reported?

Among the 28 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,284 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.