2012 Dodge Caliber — 2.0L

The 2012 Dodge Caliber sits at the tail end of a generation that experienced its worst reliability problems early, with 2007 posting a staggering 958 complaints and 4 recalls—the clear peak of the arc. Complaints then declined steadily through 2008 (377), 2009 (232), and 2010 (157), before a slight uptick in 2011 (165) and then a sharp drop to 49 in 2012—the lowest full-year complaint count in the generation. That decline likely reflects both lower production volumes as the model neared discontinuation and the cumulative effect of manufacturer fixes, evidenced by TSBs climbing to a generation-high 100 by 2012. However, the complaint mix for 2012 is notably airbag-heavy, with 11 of 49 complaints tied to air bags and seat belts and 5 to air bags alone, alongside 9 crash-related and 3 fire-related complaints—proportions that warrant attention even within a small sample. The single recall and one ongoing investigation suggest some safety concerns persisted into the final year. The data does not specify root causes for these airbag complaints, so no definitive failure mechanism can be cited. **Bottom line:** 2012 is statistically the least-complained-about year of the Caliber generation and represents the best relative pick, but the airbag-centric complaint profile and continued federal scrutiny mean a pre-purchase inspection of the supplemental restraint system is essential before buying.