Most common 2011 Dodge Caliber problems
Share of the 165 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Caliber complaints by model year
Best Caliber years: 2012, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
2011 Dodge Caliber recalls (2)
Air bags
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017.
Steering › Column
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011dodge journey, Jeep wrangler, Chrysler 200, Chrysler 200 convertible, Dodge avenger, Dodge nitro, Jeep liberty, Dodge caliber, Jeep compass, Jeep patriot, Dodge grand caravan and Chrysler town & country vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on July 4, 2011. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Dodge Caliber:
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
What 2011 Dodge Caliber owners say
Engine & cooling all 42 →
On multiple occasions vehicle completely shuts down and locks up when slowing down and turning. Almost rear-ended and then t-boned in middle of intersection. Takes several minutes to restart and unlock steering wheel then drives fine.
** From Dealer - diagnosis says - Primary Line B: D1 C/S Multiple warning lights came on in dash (like a X-mas tree) and vehicle will not want to drive after that. C/S has to turn off and turn back on to get to move. C/A TIPM - Total integrated power module - verified customer concern found vehicle with loss of comm dts with tipm no vin mis match dtc present and more than one module aginst tipm recommend replacement of tipm and retesting at this time. The TIPM module controls most if not all of the body functions of the car or truck. Everything from wipers and headlights, starting system and so on. It accepts signals from many diff switches and modules in the car and translates them to the connected systems. $2128.00 is total cost of repair at Dodge Lithia - this should be a recall. There are only about 63,000 miles on her vehicle. …
Air bags all 36 →
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. I have read that this car has a lot of issues with frame as well, so I feel I was ripped off by the dealer for selling a car that had issues in the first place, and the issue with the airbags had been consistent prior to the issuing of the recal s-61.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Dodge Caliber. While driving 10 MPH and making a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the passenger door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a broken neck and a broken back. Medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
Suspension all 30 →
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound coming from the driver's side front wheel well while turning left or driving over bumps in the roadway. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front frame members were rusted, and the driver's side front steering arm had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact stated that the mechanic was aware of a known manufacturer failure about the severe rusting of the frame. The failure mileage was 111,102.
Upon bringing our Caliber into a service shop to install shocks because we thought the severe vibration was from worn shocks, we were told the entire rear suspension subframe was rotted and rusted to the point of the driver-side rear was almost split in half. Had it been driven much farther, the left rear wheel would have been separated from the subframe. The shop did not want the car driven any further because of the safety risk to ourselves and others on the road and we had to fix this issue immediately. This is a grave issue of safety being this is a major frame component, that was clearly faulty and known about by Dodge, which could lead to a serious or fatal incident. The car has 139,000 miles on it and has been a good car mechanically thus far, prompting us to remedy the problem. …
2011 Dodge Caliber engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 28 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 23 / 27 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Caliber a good car?
Based on 165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Caliber rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Caliber at the same age. It is one of the best Caliber years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
The engine & cooling — 42 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (36) and suspension (30).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Caliber have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2011 Dodge Caliber, the most recent from September 15, 2016 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Caliber?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2010 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007 and 2008. See the full Dodge Caliber years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Caliber problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.