The most-reported Caliber run is 1B3HB48B37D (2007 builds) with 45 complaints, 8× the typical run. Suspension problems make up 24% of reports; 2007 is the worst model year at 8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for Caliber model years 2007–2012.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Dodge Caliber has 298 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 12% of every Caliber complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B3HB48B37D•••••• | 2007 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1B3HB48B87D•••••• | 2007 | 4 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B77D•••••• | 2007 | 3 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B67D•••••• | 2007 | 3 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B47D•••••• | 2007 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1B3HB48B07D•••••• | 2007 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1B3HB48B17D•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B57D•••••• | 2007 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1B3HB48BX7D•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B27D•••••• | 2007 | 3 | — | |
| 1B3HB48B97D•••••• | 2007 | 2 | — | |
| 1B3HB48A29D•••••• | 2009 | 2 | — |
Each of the other 286 Caliber runs has 24 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 13 Caliber VINs so far, most often 2007, 2010, 2008 builds; 5 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Dodge Caliber the gap between build years is 2.6×: a 2007 car draws 8 complaints per run, a 2012 one 3.1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 44 | 14 | 8 | |
| 2011 | 146 | 39 | 8 | |
| 2010 | 141 | 34 | 11 | |
| 2009 | 211 | 43 | 12 | |
| 2008 | 318 | 74 | 15 | |
| 2007 | 801 | 100 | 46 |
Heaviest year here is 2007 at 8 complaints per run; lightest is 2012 at 3.1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 24% of everything Dodge Caliber owners report: Suspension, 450 of 1,662 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13 | 1 | |
| Structure | 5 | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 3 | 9 | |
| Power Train | 10 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 2 | |
| Engine | 2 | 5 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | 2 | |
| Steering | 9 | 1 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 8 recall campaigns on the Dodge Caliber; the 6 below cover build years 2007 to 2012. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 16V668000 | Seat Belts:pretensioner | 2010–2012 |
| 11V315000 | Steering:column | 2011 |
| 10V197000 | Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch | 2010 |
| 08V528000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2009 |
| 17V824000 | Equipment | 2007 |
| 10V234000 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal | 2007 |
16V668000 was opened in 2016 on cars built from 2010: 6 years on the road before the recall.
The Caliber against its rivals
The Caliber draws 5.6 complaints per production run; the Volvo V50 1.2, the Hyundai Elantra Touring 2 and the Pontiac Vibe 4.9. That is the highest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Caliber | 1,662 | 298 | 6% | |
| Volvo V50 | 39 | 32 | 0% | |
| Hyundai Elantra Touring | 152 | 77 | 6.6% | |
| Pontiac Vibe | 1,639 | 334 | 5.2% |
How serious were they
Of the 1,662 reports on the Dodge Caliber, 6% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Dodge Caliber | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 1,662 | 1,116,631 |
| Involved a crash | 100 (6%) | 64,221 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 26 (1.6%) | 26,977 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 80 | 58,047 |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 2,728 |
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Dodge Caliber share of that is 1,662 complaints over 298 runs, 0.15% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Dodge Caliber VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,662 NHTSA complaints from 298 Caliber runs and 8 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Caliber production run has the most complaints?
1B3HB48B37D, a 2007 build, with 45 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical Caliber run has 5.6.
Which Caliber years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2007 is heaviest at 8 complaints per run and 2012 lightest at 3.1.
Does the Caliber get more complaints than the Volvo V50?
Yes: 5.6 complaints per production run for the Caliber against 1.2 for the Volvo V50.
How many Caliber complaints involve a crash?
6% of 1,662 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 26 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.