Dodge Caliber SXT A
Registered from 2006 to 2009.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2008 2.0 petrol. 20 of 63 tests failed, 32%.
Better than 9% of 2008 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 922 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 70% | 14 |
| Lights and electrics | 65% | 13 |
| Steering | 25% | 5 |
| Visibility | 25% | 5 |
| Body and structure | 20% | 4 |
| Tyres and wheels | 20% | 4 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 97% of 2008 cars — 70% of its 20 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 45%.
- Lights and electrics: failed more often than 98% of 2008 cars — 65% of its 20 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 38%.
- Visibility: failed more often than 95% of 2008 cars — 25% of its 20 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 9%.
- Steering: failed more often than 93% of 2008 cars — 25% of its 20 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 70% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Steering — 25% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Tyres and wheels — 20% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Lights and electrics — 65% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Visibility — 25% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 20% of its failures
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced