repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags
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…
2011 Dodge CaliberProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 165 owner complaints about the 2011 Dodge Caliber, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-668 the manufacturer reports only 38% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 2, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Dodge Caliber has problems
165 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
36Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
30Suspension2 crash/fire/injury
26Engine1 crash/fire/injury
25Seat belts1 crash/fire/injury
24Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
21Structure
21Vehicle speed control1 crash/fire/injury
17Power train
16Engine and engine cooling
4210 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 36 | 6 |
| Suspension | 30 | 2 |
| Engine | 26 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 25 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 24 | 2 |
| Structure | 21 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 1 |
| Power train | 17 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 42 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2011 Dodge Caliber recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Steering: column
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,…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Caliber year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Caliber median. How we score
'07'08'09'10'11'12
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Dodge Caliber safety ratings
2011 Dodge Caliber 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Dodge Caliber, and the recalls they led to.
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent DeploymentNo recall
In owners' words
What Caliber owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Active headrest in drivers seat deployed with no apparent cause and air bag light has been on since I bought the car August 29, 2023
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND JUMPED A DITCH AND STRUCK A POLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS PUSHED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BEND THE STEERING WHEEL BY…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CALIBER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR A DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…
Own a 2011 Caliber?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.