Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Dodge Caliber, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 19 | 12% |
| Suspension | 14 | 8% |
| Air bags | 12 | 7% |
| Structure | 9 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 5% |
| Power train | 7 | 4% |
| Engine | 7 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 3% |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
** 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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Active headrest in drivers seat deployed with no apparent cause and air bag light has been on since I bought the car August 29, 2023
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
seat headrest deployed while car was sitting in the driveway...would have been a problem if driver had been driving pass.side deployed on 1 30 24....driver side deployed 1 30 24
NHTSA complaint: Seats
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds coming from the undercarriage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an indepe
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I just bought this vehicle July 28 of 23. It was supposed to have been inspected to be sold. It’s completely rusted out the whole bottom of the car it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve been told by three people the people that did
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
This Vehicle was sold to me July 28,2023. It was said to be safe to sell to me by H&I, Auto Repair Shop in Sterling Hts , they let Grimaldi's Auto Sales, in Warren, Mi , on Mound sell me the vehicle I am an [XXX] woman.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
At 140000 miles I noticed that my entire subframe was ready to completely collapse and no auto shop would work on it whatsoever. I reached out and found out that there was nothing I could do about it It I had the car fo
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I've got a 2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet and during my drive home from work around 3:30am my headrest out of nowhere popped, hitting me in the back of the head and neck. There are 0 warning lights/codes present. I did no
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Dodge Caliber. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pret
Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deploy
Fix: 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
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. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUIL
Risk: A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED RIVET COULD COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO SUPPORT THE OCCUPANT LOADS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, DECREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONTAL
Fix: 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-
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
| Safety | 67 | good |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 19 of them (12%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.