YearToAvoid

2011 Dodge Caliber Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

50/100

#2 most-complained of 3 Caliber years

The 2011 Dodge Caliber has 165 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 2nd worst among the 3 model years with data. Top problem area is the Engine (54 complaints, 33% share), with two recalls covering airbags and steering.

Complaints
165
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
9 / 1
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
3 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24.5
23 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2011 Dodge Caliber problems

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

  1. Engine54 (33%)
  2. Airbags36 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (19%)
  4. Electrical System29 (18%)
  5. Seat Belts25 (15%)
  6. Structure & Body23 (14%)
  7. Brakes18 (11%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain17 (10%)
  9. Other13 (8%)
  10. Steering9 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in low-speed crashes, sometimes resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones or soft tissue damage.
  • In one case airbags reportedly deployed with a mist that owners said burned their skin.
  • The engine stalled without warning at various speeds, including right after purchase and with very low mileage on the odometer.
  • The vehicle caught fire while being driven at highway speed, with the air conditioner failing beforehand.
  • The steering wheel locked up while turning at low speed, causing the vehicle to stall and the traction control light to illuminate.
2011 Dodge Caliber complaints: complaints filed per quarter262011 Q22013 Q22015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q3
257 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2025 Q3; peak 2017 Q2 (26).

2011 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 11V315000Jun 8, 2011Steering11,096 vehicles

    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. Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet.

    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 impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash.

    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.

2011 Dodge Caliber fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
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.

2011 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 2011 Dodge Caliber reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Caliber has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 2nd worst out of 3 model years with data, with Engine issues being the top reported problem area.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA complaints show Engine issues (54 complaints, 33% share) are most common, followed by Airbags (36 complaints, 22%) and Suspension, Wheels & Tires (31 complaints, 19%).
Does the 2011 Dodge Caliber have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls: one for Airbags (campaign 16V668000) covering an Occupant Restraint Control issue, and one for Steering (campaign 11V315000) involving the steering column pivot.
At what mileage do problems typically occur on the 2011 Caliber?
Median mileage at failure varies by system: Engine problems show a median of 39,500 miles, Electrical System issues 39,000 miles, and Airbags 68,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.
How does the 2011 Caliber compare to other years?
The 2011 model has 165 complaints and a complaint index of 50, compared to 157 complaints and an index of 100 for 2010, and 49 complaints with an index of 0 for 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.