Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

157 reports

58,898 miles · Sep 17, 2014

Suspension

PER MY MECHANIC THE BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. HAVING SPOKEN WITH OTHER CALIBER OWNERS, IT SEEMS FAIRLY UNANIMOUS THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED OR NEED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON THEIR CARS NOT LONG AFTER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRES. FURTHER IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LOWER CONTROL ARM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10636952

94,763 miles · Aug 22, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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WHILE DRIVING OUR 2010 DODGE CALIBER ON THE INTERSTATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 75MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO LOSE SPEED. THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND A HIGH PITCH, WHINING SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. THERE IS NO WARNING AND THE CAR STARTS TO LOSE POWER. THE RPM'S GO UP. WE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE, THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE. NO POWER AND WILL NOT START. CALLED DODGE 3-4 TIMES AND THEY ONLY HAD RECORD OF 2. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SERVICE PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. WHEN YOU TALK TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT OR THE DEALERSHIP YOU GET THE RUN AROUND AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR WHAT MILEAGE THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION SERVICE SHOULD BE DONE. I DO KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE SHOULD NOT BE IN JEOPARDY IF IT IS A SERVICE ISSUE. WHEREAS THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. CHRYSLER INITIATED THE CALL BACK AFTER THEY KNEW I HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE CAR LOOKED AT. I HAVE GOTTEN DIFFERENT STORIES FROM BOTH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT AND THE DEALERSHIP AS TO JUST HOW MANY OF THE 2010 DODGE CALIBERS HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HADN'T SEEN ANY THAT WENT INTO LIMP MODE, BUT AFTER THEY DID THEIR DIAGNOSTIC THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN 100'S. THAT'S A BIG DISCREPANCY!!! I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO BECOME A STATISTIC!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627610

78,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014

Electrical SystemPower Train

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IMAGINE CRUISING DOWN THE TOLLWAY AT 75 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE PANEL LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND YOU HAVE NO POWER TO THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND NOTHING, NOT A MOAN, NOTHING. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY. IN A TIME FRAME OF ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THIS UNTIL IT WAS ACTUALLY ACTING UP. IT REPEATED THIS 4 - 5 TIMES OVER A 4 WEEK PERIOD. FINALLY, DIAGNOSED AS THE COMPUTER MODULE CONTROL. THIS IS AN $1100.00 REPAIR. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626527

53,000 miles · Aug 19, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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MY 2010 DODGE CALIBER HAS STARTED THIS SPUTTERING THING. I INDICATED SEVERAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. SOMETIMES IT HESITATES TO START AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT INTERMITTENTLY IT HAS SORT OF JERKED, BUT TODAY, IT JUST SPUTTERED AND TRIED TO SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AS I WAS TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS, THE MILEAGE IS ONLY 53,000 MILES. I AM OLD AND DISABLED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF I HAD TO WALK. IT ACTS LIKE IT IS EITHER A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS TRYING TO SHUT IT DOWN. I AM NOT SURE. BEFORE I GO PUTTING FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN IT OR, TRY DOING ANYTHING ON MY OWN, I NEED SOME ANSWERS. ALSO IT ISN'T EVEN PAID FOR YET! IT WAS A "PROGRAM" VEHICLE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. HOWEVER THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THE SPUTTERING STARTED ABOUT JAN. 2014. I NEVER HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OF ANY RECALLS BUT I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS GOING ON. I AM OLD AND NEED MY VEHICLE TO COMPLETE EVERY DAY TASKS. I ALSO DON'T GO ANYWHERE VERY OFTEN AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE MONEY HUNGRY MECHANICS THAT ARE KIND OF SHADY OUT THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. I READ NUMEROUS REVIEWS ON HERE AND I DO THINK I MAY BE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE OF MANY REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, HESITATION, AND SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO SHUT DOWN ON ME IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES, LIGHT COMING ON AND SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN AND TRYING TO STALL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMMEDIATELY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626457

89,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED …

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NHTSA ODI #10626139

89,000 miles · Aug 17, 2014

Power Train

WE GOT ON THE FREEWAY FOR 30MINS AND THE TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. THE CAR STOPPED GAINING SPEED AND WE TOOK IT BACK TOO THE DEALERSHIP. WE FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR THE FAMILY. THERE IS TAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND IT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHE…

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NHTSA ODI #10625804

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2014

Electrical System

I WAS AT A LIGHT IN 3 LANE TRAFFIC WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED MY CAR BEGAN LUNGING AND SPUTTERING FINALLY LOSING POWER. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I CAN'T EVEN FIND A DIAGRAM ONLINE TO TELL ME WHERE THAT IS LOCATED. ON CALIBER FORUMZ THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IT REALLY…

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NHTSA ODI #10618465

4,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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DATES & MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH PART WOULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I GUESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. MY 16 YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER RECENTLY TOLD ME HER OLDER CALIBER DID THE SAME THING! THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY/POWER ISSUE WITH THE MODEL. WHY WOULD THIS JUST BE HAPPENING TO OUR 2 VEHICLES? HER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN GA AND MINE IN MI. I DO A LOT OF FREEWAY DRIVING. EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAYS AT 70 MPH FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. I TAKE AN EXIT. WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO TURN OFF THE EXIT RAMP, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY "BOGS DOWN". THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER. EACH TIME, I HAVE CALIBRATED TIME FOR SAFELY PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, EXPECTING TO HAVE NORMAL POWER. SUDDENLY, I HAVE LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY STALL OUT! YOU CAN IMAGINE THE FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CLEAR ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN TIME. THE LOW POWER CONTINUES FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED, BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ACTUALLY, THIS IS SO DANGEROUS, I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY I HAVEN'T HAD IT CHECKED OUT, BESIDES INCONVENIENCE AND STUPIDITY. WHEN MY GRANDDAUGHTER TOLD ME ABOUT HER CAR, THAT REALLY SCARED ME AND PROMPTED ME TO ACT. I'VE ALSO COME TO REALIZE THAT I'M PUTTING OTHER DRIVERS IN DANGER OF INJURY OR DEATH. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF THERE'S BEEN A RECALL OR SHOULD BE ONE ON THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY MORE OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND POSSIBLY INJURIES OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610316

29,020 miles · Jul 10, 2014

Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON I-695 THE ETC LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH AND THE CAR BECOMES CRIPPLED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE CAR IS FINE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THE LIGHT CUTS ON AND OFF OCCASIONALLY. NOW THE ETC LIGHT STAYS LIT EVEN AFTER RESTARTS. TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT IS COVERED BY THE PLATINUM WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609582

55,000 miles · Jun 27, 2014

Electrical SystemEngine

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NOTICED LOSS IN ACCELERATION POWER HERE AND THERE OVER A FEW MONTHS TIME AS WELL AS THE ECT LIGHT FLASH ON FOR A QUICK MOMENT A FEW TIMES. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE STOP THE WHOLE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND KNOCKING THEN CUT OFF ALL WHILE HAVING THE ETC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE THIS HAPPENED I COULD BARELY MAKE IT UP THE STEEP HILL BACK TO MY HOME. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL UNIT FOR AROUND $700! I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 2 AND 1/2 YEARS AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MAJOR ISSUE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL THE ECT THAT THEY ARE USING I ALSO HAVE A 2012 JEEP COMPASS THAT I HAVE HAD 2 MONTHS AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606384

Official recalls

16V668000 · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Sep 15, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

Consequence: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Air Bags

10V197000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

May 11, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE19014 · Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

Opened Sep 9, 2019 · Closed Feb 25, 2026

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

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 vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that included vehicle production data, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, production changes, and other data related to the alleged defect from the start of production (2010) through September 24, 2019.On January 27, 2020, ODI received an update to the December 2, 2019, IR response from FCA.On September 22, 2020, ODI requested additional subject vehicle AHR information from FCA.ODI received FCA's response on October 21, 2020.ODI subsequently received an update to FCA's October 21, 2020, response on February 16, 2021.During the investigation, ODI requested updates to certain IR questions on two occasions.FCA provided updates to question #2 on March 5, 2021, and questions #2 and #5 on May 26, 2023. FCA’s IR response data identified approximately 7.5 million subject vehicles (with approximately 15 million AHR assemblies).Due to the large number of vehicles and failure reports, ODI focused its analysis on the FCA vehicle model with the highest failure rate to represent the worst-case scenario.For this purpose, ODI focused on MY 2012-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for its analysis.This population includes 710,890 vehicles that FCA manufactured between August 19, 2011, and August 8, 2015.ODI identified 2,839 alleged AHR failures within this limited population.ODI identified 263 alleged injuries that were caused by AHR failures in MY 2012-2015 Grand Cherokees vehicles.Of these alleged injuries, ODI categorized them as eighty-two (82) soft tissue (neck/whiplash, bruise) injuries, four (4) concussions, fifty-nine (59) headaches, and one hundred eighteen (118) without a specific injury description.Although complainants have alleged injuries, ODI has been unable to obtain evidence to substantiate or validate any injuries where medical treatment was required.Consumer outreach was conducted by ODI, where sixty-three (63) FCA complainants with alleged injuries were contacted.Twelve of the sixty-three FCA consumers responded and were interviewed by ODI.ODI requested medical records, however, only one response was provided. Attorneys representing the responding complainant provided a synopsis that indicated they had experienced prior neck-related injuries dating to the mid-1990s.ODI also contacted one hundred (100) consumers who submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) in an attempt to validate alleged injuries. Despite the efforts of ODI, the office has been unsuccessful at obtaining substantive documentation/evidence supporting complaints that allege serious injuries (where pre-existing medical conditions did not already exist). In addition to the low severity of alleged injuries caused by AHR deployments, there have been eleven alleged crashes and two alleged lane departures within the entire subject vehicle population that has been in the field up to sixteen years (with over 8,500 AHR inadvertent deployments).ODI was not able to validate that the alleged crashes were the result of inadvertent head rest deployments, and the crashes were minor in nature. ODI has conducted a thorough investigation of the alleged safety defect and with up to sixteen years of exposure for some vehicles and over 8,500 inadvertent AHR deployments, no serious crashes or injuries could be validated in the sub-population of focus.The lack of serious injuries validated by ODI with such large period of field exposure is consistent with thework done by NHTSA’s Human Injury Research Division and the Biodynamic Research Corporation, which support that an inadvertent AHR deployment is not likely to cause serious injury.In addition to the low risk of injury, FCA released an extended warranty program that covers inadvertent AHR deployment for ten years / unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. PE19014 is closed with the FCA extended warranty program.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. To review a complete closing summary, please the attached closing report. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint