YearToAvoid

2010 Dodge Caliber Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 3 Caliber years

The 2010 Dodge Caliber has 157 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 100, and ranks worst (1st) of 3 model years covered. Top problem areas are Electrical System and Engine (36 complaints each, 23% share), with 2 recalls including an airbag issue.

Complaints
157
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
12 / 3
Injuries / deaths
15 / 2
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
23 city / 28 hwy

Top 2010 Dodge Caliber problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System36 (23%)
  2. Engine36 (23%)
  3. Airbags31 (20%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires29 (18%)
  5. Other22 (14%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain17 (11%)
  7. Seat Belts15 (10%)
  8. Structure & Body13 (8%)
  9. Steering12 (8%)
  10. Fuel System11 (7%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly fail to deploy during frontal or side-impact crashes at speeds ranging from 5 to 50 mph, sometimes resulting in injuries.
  • Seat belts have been reported to fail to lock during collisions, allowing occupants to be thrown forward.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or loss of braking response at low speed, in one case causing a crash into a building.
  • Some engines have reportedly caught fire, in one case while the vehicle was being driven shortly after a routine oil change.
  • The ignition has been reported to fail to engage, requiring repeated dealer visits and key reprogramming.
  • Manual transmissions have reportedly stalled out while in neutral at intersections and toll booths, delaying restart by several minutes.
2010 Dodge Caliber complaints: complaints filed per quarter192010 Q22012 Q22014 Q12016 Q12017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22024 Q2
234 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q2 to 2025 Q4; peak 2016 Q4 (19).

2010 Dodge Caliber recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V668000Sep 15, 2016Airbags1,435,625 vehicles

    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. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    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 deployment of these safety systems.

    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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

  2. NHTSA 10V197000May 11, 2010Structure & Body123 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 dodge caliber vehicles. Some vehicles may have been built with an incorrect door lock rod in the right front door.

    Risk: An unlatched door could increase the risk of an unbelted front seat passenger being ejected from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front right door lock rod as required free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during june 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2010 Dodge Caliber fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Caliber years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict100157225
2011No verdict50165224.5
2012No verdict049124

All Dodge Caliber years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Dodge Caliber reliable?
Compared with other Caliber years in this data, 2010 ranks worst, with 157 complaints and a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of the 3 years covered.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA data shows Electrical System and Engine complaints tied for the top problem area, each with 36 complaints (23% share), followed by Airbags at 31 complaints (20%).
Does the 2010 Dodge Caliber have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 Caliber: one for an Occupant Restraint Control airbag issue and one for an incorrect front door lock rod.
How does the 2010 Caliber compare to the 2011 and 2012 models?
The 2011 Caliber had 165 complaints with a Complaint Index of 50, and the 2012 had 49 complaints with a Complaint Index of 0, both lower than the 2010's index of 100.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2010 Caliber?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 90,000 miles for Airbag-related complaints on the 2010 Caliber.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.