** From Dealer - diagnosis says - Primary Line B: D1 C/S Multiple warning lights came on in dash (like a X-mas tree) and vehicle will not want to drive after that. C/S has to turn off and turn back on to get to move. C/A TIPM – Total integrated power module – verified customer concern found vehicle with loss of comm dts with tipm no vin mis match dtc present and more than one module aginst tipm recommend replacement of tipm and retesting at this time. The TIPM module controls most if not all of the body functions of the car or truck. Everything from wipers and headlights, starting system and so on. It accepts signals from many diff switches and modules in the car and translates them to the connected systems. $2128.00 is total cost of repair at Dodge Lithia – this should be a recall. There are only about 63,000 miles on her vehicle. ** Safety of driver (my mother in law who is [XXX] or niece) put at risk because car just slows down and stops WHILE driving. She pulls over, stops car, then when she starts car again it's okay for a while until it does this again. ** Safety of those on the road, if her car dies while she's driving it and she has to pull off, if car won't drive, she is stopped on the road or highway with other cars behind hopefully stopping to let her pull off the road. ** Yes it was inspected and reproduced by dealer. Dealer (Dodge Lithia in Kennewick, WA) gave us this information above primary line B, etc lights all come on dash looking like a Christmas tree.... ** No warning lights for this specific issues, only that ALL dash lights come on like a Christmas tree, we paid $300 for one mechanic who couldn't diagnose. Now Dodge has said it's a $2000+ fix - and hopefully this will fix the issue??? ** The only symptom is dashboard lights up, car slows down (de-celerates) and then won't go. Car is turned off, then turned back on and it drives again, then it happens again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2011 Dodge Caliber problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine42
- Airbags36
- Suspension30
- Seat belts25
- Electrical24
- Acceleration21
- Body21
- Transmission17
- Driver assistance12
- Steering9
- Brakes6
- Lights6
- Wheels5
- Fuel system2
- Seats2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Dodge Caliber
Stalling 26Check engine light 11Loss of power 9Airbag light 5Headlights 5Won't shift 5
Recalls 2
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
- 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 a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
Recall number 16V668000 · Recall details
Steering: column
- What is wrong
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011dodge journey, jeep wrangler, chrysler 200, chrysler 200 convertible, dodge avenger, dodge nitro, jeep liberty, dodge caliber, jeep compass, jeep patriot, dodge grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles. Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet.
- 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, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 4, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 11V315000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2011 Dodge Caliber
Defect investigations
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that included vehicle production data, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, production changes, and other data related to the alleged defect from the start of production (2010) through September 24, 2019.On January 27, 2020, ODI received an update to the December 2, 2019, IR response from FCA.On September 22, 2020, ODI requested additional subject vehicle AHR information from FCA.ODI received FCA's response on October 21, 2020.ODI subsequently received an update to FCA's October 21, 2020, response on February 16, 2021.During the investigation, ODI requested updates to certain IR questions on two occasions.FCA provided updates to question #2 on March 5, 2021, and questions #2 and #5 on May 26, 2023. FCA’s IR response data identified approximately 7.5 million subject vehicles (with approximately 15 million AHR assemblies).Due to the large number of vehicles and failure reports, ODI focused its analysis on the FCA vehicle model with the highest failure rate to represent the worst-case scenario.For this purpose, ODI focused on MY 2012-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for its analysis.This population includes 710,890 vehicles that FCA manufactured between August 19, 2011, and August 8, 2015.ODI identified 2,839 alleged AHR failures within this limited population.ODI identified 263 alleged injuries that were caused by AHR failures in MY 2012-2015 Grand Cherokees vehicles.Of these alleged injuries, ODI categorized them as eighty-two (82) soft tissue (neck/whiplash, bruise) injuries, four (4) concussions, fifty-nine (59) headaches, and one hundred eighteen (118) without a specific injury description.Although complainants have alleged injuries, ODI has been unable to obtain evidence to substantiate or validate any injuries where medical treatment was required.Consumer outreach was conducted by ODI, where sixty-three (63) FCA complainants with alleged injuries were contacted.Twelve of the sixty-three FCA consumers responded and were interviewed by ODI.ODI requested medical records, however, only one response was provided. Attorneys representing the responding complainant provided a synopsis that indicated they had experienced prior neck-related injuries dating to the mid-1990s.ODI also contacted one hundred (100) consumers who submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) in an attempt to validate alleged injuries. Despite the efforts of ODI, the office has been unsuccessful at obtaining substantive documentation/evidence supporting complaints that allege serious injuries (where pre-existing medical conditions did not already exist). In addition to the low severity of alleged injuries caused by AHR deployments, there have been eleven alleged crashes and two alleged lane departures within the entire subject vehicle population that has been in the field up to sixteen years (with over 8,500 AHR inadvertent deployments).ODI was not able to validate that the alleged crashes were the result of inadvertent head rest deployments, and the crashes were minor in nature. ODI has conducted a thorough investigation of the alleged safety defect and with up to sixteen years of exposure for some vehicles and over 8,500 inadvertent AHR deployments, no serious crashes or injuries could be validated in the sub-population of focus.The lack of serious injuries validated by ODI with such large period of field exposure is consistent with thework done by the federal safety agency’s Human Injury Research Division and the Biodynamic Research Corporation, which support that an inadvertent AHR deployment is not likely to cause serious injury.In addition to the low risk of injury, FCA released an extended warranty program that covers inadvertent AHR deployment for ten years / unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. PE19014 is closed with the FCA extended warranty program.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. To review a complete closing summary, please the attached closing report. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE19014
Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Dodge Caliber 86
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Emissions Recall U67
- Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair...
- Lubrication and Maintenance Fluids If MOPAR fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review...
- Emissions recal U67 Catalytic Converter Efficiency
- Some of the above-involved vehicles may exceed NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission level standards due to...
- Approved Use of Weld Through Primers This bulletin documents the FCA US LLC position regarding the use of...
- If a Mopar oil filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36 specification and is...
- Customer Satisfaction Notification V51 Reprogram Powertrain Control Module
- Oil Filter If a Mopar Oil Filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36...
- Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles
2011 Dodge Caliber fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-24 | 27-31 | 24-27 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22-23 | 27-28 | 24-25 |
What 2011 Dodge Caliber owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Horn started honking on its own
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
seat headrest deployed while car was sitting in the driveway...would have been a problem if driver had been driving pass.side deployed on 1 30 24....driver side deployed 1 30 24
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds coming from the undercarriage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the undercarriage needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
I just bought this vehicle July 28 of 23. It was supposed to have been inspected to be sold. It’s completely rusted out the whole bottom of the car it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve been told by three people the people that did the inspection and said it was OK, and then Belle tire, which I tried to get a Alignment for him because it’s so bad and separating. I can’t get an alignment it hydroplanes and back in bounces up and down and it’s not for me to drive. I’m [XXX] and I need a good safe vehicle and I need something done with this or someone to take it back so that I can get a different car that is safe for me to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This Vehicle was sold to me July 28,2023. It was said to be safe to sell to me by H&I, Auto Repair Shop in Sterling Hts , they let Grimaldi's Auto Sales, in Warren, Mi , on Mound sell me the vehicle I am an [XXX] woman. The repair man there said it was SAFE to drive. I took it for an alignment. Which at Belle Tire they could not be due to the fact how bad it is! now I have a vehicle that is not safe to Drive because the Rear Suspension Crossmember is rusted out and other parts in back plus struts and other parts. I need this vehicle fixed or replaced as I live on Social Security. FOR FREE I can't afford to PAY for something that was sold to me that it is junk. It was Hydroplaning, had the tires checked out! Then the back end was bosing up and down. Thats when I found out more problems. I NEED HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW < I NEED TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD PLEASE [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
At 140000 miles I noticed that my entire subframe was ready to completely collapse and no auto shop would work on it whatsoever. I reached out and found out that there was nothing I could do about it It I had the car for 2 years and it’s had this issue the whole time Not cool safety should be first.
I've got a 2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet and during my drive home from work around 3:30am my headrest out of nowhere popped, hitting me in the back of the head and neck. There are 0 warning lights/codes present. I did not make any harsh accelerations or break, nor did I turn wildly. I was already settled into a lane on the highway and had already come to posted speed (60 mph) I was on I-610 West heading home and thankfully there were very few vehicles on the highway. Otherwise I probably would have caused an accident when I swerved out of my lane after being hit rather violently in the back of my head. The sound AND impact startled me not to mention hurt pretty bad and left a pretty good sized goose egg on the back of my head. I managed to make it back home be it the trip between my home and work is only 13 mi. Due to the fact that it was so early in the morning and still dark outside I chose to wait until daylight before I got ready for my next shift to take a look into what could have been the cause as well as checking to see what was needed to remedy the situation. I'm a personal driver for Alto so I know all about harsh events while driving a vehicle and none of which were the case in this instance. This happened completely out of nowhere for no apparent reason and with no warning whatsoever. I honestly wasn't even aware that there was anything in my headrest that could do anything like this. This is very dangerous and upon searching the internet I realize that I'm not the only person that has had this issue. So here I am now making a formal complaint. So far I'm not able to fix the headrest myself and am not sure if it needs to be replaced or can just be put back together. Looking into what to do next. I've made a short video showing my vehicle and the damage that occurred during this incident but it will not let me upload it onto the system. If it's needed please let me know and I will gladly send it your way.
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caliber. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound coming from the driver's side front wheel well while turning left or driving over bumps in the roadway. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front frame members were rusted, and the driver’s side front steering arm had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact stated that the mechanic was aware of a known manufacturer failure about the severe rusting of the frame. The failure mileage was 111,102.
Compare the 2011 Dodge Caliber
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Questions about the 2011 Dodge Caliber
Is the 2011 Dodge Caliber reliable?
Owners have filed 165 complaints about the 2011 Dodge Caliber, close to a typical Caliber model year.
What is the 2011 Dodge Caliber year score?
The 2011 Dodge Caliber scores 75 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Dodge Caliber: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Dodge Caliber?
Engine and cooling, with 42 complaints, typically around 26,650 miles. Next is airbags (36).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Caliber have?
2 recalls, covering air bags and steering.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Dodge Caliber get?
Official estimates for the 2011 Dodge Caliber range from 24 to 27 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23-24 city and 27-31 highway.
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