KnownCarProblems2012 Dodge Caliber Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Caliber, most often about the air bags (35% of complaints, typically around 63,500 miles). It is 6th of 7 Caliber model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2012 Dodge Caliber problems
Air bags
17 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles.
I was involved in a car accident on thursday where I hit a guard rail pretty hard and dead on. At the time I was going 35 MPH in the pouring rain. My airbags never deployed. This is very bothersome as I have had issues with this car before not starting all the time when I first purchased the car. I had bumper damage…
The recall describes problems with the occupant restraint controller, air bag deployment, and safety belt restraint. The dealer suggested I call the manufacturer, who told me they had deemed the vehicle safe to drive and to take it to the dealer for an inspection before they would consider giving me a different car to…
Seat belts
13 complaints · 27%I was involved in a car accident on thursday where I hit a guard rail pretty hard and dead on. At the time I was going 35 MPH in the pouring rain. My airbags never deployed. This is very bothersome as I have had issues with this car before not starting all the time when I first purchased the car. I had bumper damage…
The recall describes problems with the occupant restraint controller, air bag deployment, and safety belt restraint. The dealer suggested I call the manufacturer, who told me they had deemed the vehicle safe to drive and to take it to the dealer for an inspection before they would consider giving me a different car to…
Speed control
7 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
Mt 2012 Dodge Caliber had a roll away incident on 9/6/2103 when parked in a driveway. It rolled and then dove down a very steep hill with trees which eventually stopped the car rolling down the hill. The manufacturer defect has been diagnosed as a failure of the shifter assembly. There are a number of late model cars…
Rear speed sensor went messing with traction control cruise control and ABS system none of them working sue to one sensor on one wheel not working properly after a wheel bearing hub went and got replaced.
Body and structure
6 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated that there was a rattling noise coming from the front sub frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was contacted. The…
Suspension
5 complaints · 10%Engine
5 complaints · 10%Ignition key can be removed from any position. Drive, neutral, reverse or any. This lets vehicle key be removed without being in park position. The 2012 Dodge Caliber can just roll away. Caught car a few times rolling. Now had a very recent serious crash. It was sitting behind house and rolled down a steep hill…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Caliber. While driving 30 MPH, the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor coming from the engine. The vehicle started smoking and then ignited into flames near the engine. There were no warning indicators prior to the fire. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The…
Transmission
5 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles.
Mt 2012 Dodge Caliber had a roll away incident on 9/6/2103 when parked in a driveway. It rolled and then dove down a very steep hill with trees which eventually stopped the car rolling down the hill. The manufacturer defect has been diagnosed as a failure of the shifter assembly. There are a number of late model cars…
My Dodge Caliber 2012 sxt still under warranty had a failed manufacturer component, the 'shift interlock assembly' which controls drive, park, reverse, nuetral and all transmission settings. Vehicle was parked on blacktop area behind my house and rolled forward. It plunged headfirst down a steep hill hill crashing…
Electrical
5 complaints · 10%The left tail light fixture has accumulated approximately 7.25 inches of water/moisture in side of it. The right tail light fixture has accumulated approximately 2.75 inches of water/moisture in side of it. The left running, brake and turning signal lights are still functioning properly, but the reverse light (the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Dodge Caliber recalls
Seat belts: pretensioner
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.
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 august 15, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s61.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Active head rest inadvertent deployment
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe19014 on september 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the active head rest (ahr) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (my) 2014 jeep grand cherokee and dodge durango vehicles.when odi opened the investigation, odi was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.a small number of early warning reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat ahr inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.reported safety consequences resulting from the ahr deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of
Questions about the 2012 Dodge Caliber
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (17 complaints, typically around 63,500 miles); seat belts (13 complaints); speed control (7 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 15, 2016 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Dodge Caliber?
- It is 6th of 7 Caliber model years by number of complaints, with 49 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.