Is the 2011 Dodge Caliber a bad year?
165 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caliber years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Dodge Caliber are in line with other Caliber years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 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 8,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 42 (25%) | 1k–64k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 36 (22%) | 44k–102k miles · ahead | — |
| Suspension | 30 (18%) | 65k–132k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 24 (15%) | 37k–93k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 21 (13%) | 75k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| Speed control | 21 (13%) | 35k–95k miles · ahead | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (10%) | 28k–89k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Seat belts | 25 (15%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (3%) | 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 8,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 165 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 8 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
First incident occurred in the morning, vehicle stalled and restarted on it's own going around a curve. Later that day in the afternoon, vehicle stalled going around yet another curve this time not restarting.
While making a slow speed right turn (Into our driveway) the steering locked/ car stalled. The vehicle is a one week old 2011 Dodge caliber with 516 mis on it.
This is the third time since I have had this car beginning in september 2014 with about 60k the car suddenly stalls making the car very difficult handle.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 8,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 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 of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. 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.
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: 49
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Dodge Caliber. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
No Start After Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Replacement and/or Reprogramming
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
Powertrain Diagnostic and System Improvements
Some vehicles may exceed NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission level standards due to loss of catalytic converter efficiency
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2010 Caliber: 157 complaints, keep it · 2012 Caliber: 49 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 2011 Dodge Caliber a bad year?
165 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caliber years. At 8,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (42), air bags (36), suspension (30), electrical system (24), body structure (21).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Caliber have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-668), Steering (NHTSA 11V-315). 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.