YearToAvoid

2010 Dodge Caliber Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 36 engine complaints for the 2010 Dodge Caliber, 23% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles. No related recall exists for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
36
23% of 157
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine stalling suddenly while slowing down or stopped at lights, stop signs, or railroad crossings, often restarting on its own.
  • Some describe the engine sputtering, jerking, or chugging before stalling, both at idle and while driving on the highway.
  • Owners report stalling that worsens when electrical loads increase, such as with headlights, radio, or blower fan running at the same time.
  • In one case the electronic throttle control light came on before the vehicle stalled, and the dealer identified a failed throttle body.
  • Dealers frequently could not find diagnostic trouble codes when testing the vehicle, leaving the stalling issue unresolved.
  • Two separate incidents describe fire following engine problems, including one where smoke and flames appeared while driving.

When 2010 Dodge Caliber engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 16, 2011, latest Jul 1, 2020.

2010 Dodge Caliber engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2011Apr 2013Feb 2014Aug 2014Mar 2015Oct 2016Jun 2017
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2011 to Jul 2020; peak Jan 2014 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Dodge Caliber

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Caliber model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20060 (0%)
  2. 2007187 (21%)
  3. 200878 (22%)
  4. 200937 (16%)
  5. 201036 (23%)
  6. 201154 (33%)
  7. 201211 (22%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2010 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA lists 36 engine complaints for the 2010 model year, making up 23% of all complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Dodge Caliber engine stalling issue?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 70,000 miles.
Did the engine problems cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data for this area shows 1 crash and 2 fires among the reported complaints, with no injuries.
How does the 2010 Caliber compare to other years for engine complaints?
NHTSA shows 36 engine complaints (23% share) in 2010, versus 54 complaints (33% share) in 2011 and 11 complaints (22% share) in 2012.

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.