Is the 2010 Dodge Caliber a bad year?
157 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caliber years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Dodge Caliber are in line with other Caliber years.
2th quietest of 6 Caliber years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Caliber owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 76,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 32 (20%) | 54k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 31 (20%) | 38k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 26 (17%) | 43k–95k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Suspension | 26 (17%) | 59k–124k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 18 (11%) | 45k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (11%) | 43k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 12 (8%) | 52k–125k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 11 (7%) | 36k–82k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 10 (6%) | 71k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 15 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 76,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 157 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Nov 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
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.
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.
This vehicle has stalled twice and spuuters and jerks intermitently stopped at a light, railroad crossing or otherwise.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 76,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Dodge Caliber: 2
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. 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.
Some vehicles may have been built with an incorrect door lock rod in the right front door. An unlatched door could increase the risk of an unbelted front seat passenger being ejected from the vehicle.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 30
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Dodge Caliber. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X91 Warranty Extension
Front And Rear Crossmember Corrosion (X69 Warranty Extension)
Dodge: fuel gauge fluctuation
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2009 Caliber: 232 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2011 Caliber: 165 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Caliber year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · All Caliber years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Dodge Caliber a bad year?
157 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caliber years. At 76,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Caliber?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (32), air bags (31), engine (26), suspension (26), speed control (18).
How many recalls does the 2010 Dodge Caliber have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-668), Latches and locks (NHTSA 10V-197). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.