There are 3 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2012 Dodge Caliberin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT AFTER ONLY 7YEARS
WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER WHEN THE LIGHTENING BOLT LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND WAS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. NOW THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AGAIN AND I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 15 TIMES AND THEY KEEP RELPLACING DIFFERENT SENSORS AND WIRING. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ISSUE THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS BECAUSE EVERYTIME THEY 'FIX' ONE THING IT SEEMS TO BRING UP OTHER CODES.
TL* 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 VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026