Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Dodge Caliber owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When I start my car, it starts just fine and then about 1-2 minutes later the engine check sign will come on followed by a red lighting bold on the dashboard. Once the red lightning bolt comes on either parked or driving in a city street or highway, the car immediately starts making loud noises, shakes uncontrollably and speed reduces, sometimes to the point where it shuts off while I'm still driving on the highway or city street. It sort of starts forcing itself to move while in motion. While the light is still on, if I stop at a red light or stop sign and it's time for me to go or the light is green, when I push the gas paddle the car sort of tries to move with pushes, just as though someone was pushing it while parked and then all of a sudden moves with speed. …
My car started to suddenly slow down on the highway. I have had 4 incidents where when the car is on accelerated speed suddenly slow down. Am still paying loan on the car and I have maintained service on it.I feel I maybe in danger as the car is now a safety hazard. I have researched online and saw that other people have had the same problems. I have contacted Dodge corporate twice and was given case number 26243890 on phone and case number 26233972 on email. They say they can't do anything as the car is not on recall. I do not want life lost for it to be recalled. If there is already other people with the same problems then Dodge should do something before anything bad happened. I have called local Dodge dealer and they told me to pay to diagnose my car. Please help so Dodge to correct this problem before car causes a crash. Thank you
While driving on a major state highway, my temperature light came on and I heard a whining sound coming from the engine and my vehicle started to jerk. I was able to pull over to the shoulder when it stalled out. I let it sit for a couple of seconds and started the car. I took the car to the shop and they conducted a diagnostic check on the vehicle. I was told they found nothing wrong with the vehicle. They also told me that it could have been a lose gas cap that caused this issue. The last time I went to the gas station was about two days prior to the incident. I drove several places before the incident. If it was a gas cap issue, the car would have stalled out before that. Something needs to be done.
While driving my car my transaxle overheating light will illiminate. My car will slow down and not keep the speed up. I have to pull over until the light goes out then I can continue my driving but it will do it all again 10 miles down the road. This happens about an hour after driving it on the highway at 70 MPH I was just on a trip 2 hours from home. In a 30 minute time frame I had to pull over 6 times because of this. I have not taken it to the dealership and it has not been fixed. I have noticed many people are having the same problem why has this not been recalled yet?
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward. The SRS and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the driver side air bag spiral cable spring needed to be replaced and reset. A tune up was recommended. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Updated 10/28/16
Tl* the contact owns 2010 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle emitted a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic in the city of cleveland, ohio where it was diagnosed that the engine cradle, the front ball joints, and the rear suspension failed due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,009.
2010 Dodge Caliber with headlight failures caused by faulty fuse box (TIPM). I replace bulbs and one headlight will not light low beam or high beam. All the fuses are good. It has also affected how the car runs and has stalled on the road. This is the 4th or fifth incident I have had with the car, headlights, stalling, turn signals, air bag indicators. The headlights will not work moving or sitting still and turn signals.
I had took my car to get service at jiffy lube with a air filter and oil change. When driving to school I slowly started to notice a strange smell and decided to return to jiffy lube. Well on my way the problem increased and smoke and flames started appearing, that's when I quickly got out the car and called 911. I had only made it a block away from reaching jiffy lube when incident occurred .
This has happened a few different time, but when trying to accelerate from 45mph onto the highway from an on ramp my Dodge Caliber 2010 started to jerk and wouldn't let me go any faster, which made my car actually decelerate. Also there were times when I tried accelerating to pass someone and it just wouldn't go any faster, but there were no jerks.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge Caliber. While driving approximately 25 to 30 MPH, the electronic throttle control light illuminated and the vehicle would not accelerate past 5 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 108,000.
Engine complaints in other Caliber years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2010 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2010 Dodge Caliber, 17% of the model year's 157 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2010 Dodge Caliber engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2010 Dodge Caliber, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Dodge Caliber engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.