Dodge Caliber
Registered from 2006 to 2009.
About this model
The Dodge Caliber is a compact hatchback manufactured and marketed by Chrysler's Dodge division from the 2007 through 2012 model years, replacing the Dodge Neon and Chrysler PT Cruiser.
From the Wikipedia article Dodge Caliber, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2008 2.0 petrol. 113 of 341 tests failed, 33%.
Better than 5% 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 | 68% | 77 |
| Lights and electrics | 48% | 54 |
| Body and structure | 27% | 31 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 26% | 29 |
| Steering | 25% | 28 |
| Tyres and wheels | 22% | 25 |
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
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 97% of 2008 cars — 68% of its 113 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 45%.
- Seat belts and airbags: failed more often than 99% of 2008 cars — 26% of its 113 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 1%.
- Steering: failed more often than 93% of 2008 cars — 25% of its 113 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 — 68% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
- Steering — 25% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Tyres and wheels — 22% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 48% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 27% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
- Seat belts and airbags — 26% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 36% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 18% | 20% | 33 | |
| 60–80k miles | 35% | 24% | 88 | |
| 80–100k miles | 35% | 27% | 94 | |
| 100–120k miles | 36% | 29% | 72 |
287 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.