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2012 Dodge Caliber
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Dodge Caliber, concerning air bags, and 36 consumer complaints received since 2012.
The component named most often is air bags: 275.9 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 113 per 1,000 across all 2012 model-year vehicles and against 55.6 per 1,000 for the Dodge Caliber line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 219.4 complaints per model year across the 7 Dodge Caliber model years on this register; 8 complaints reported a crash and 3 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2017 (15); the most recent in the file is dated 9 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Filed by Chrysler (FCA US LLC) (manufacturer campaign S61); components: air bags; seat belts:pretensioner; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2012 Dodge Caliber (black) against all 2012 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2012 | Caliber line | All 2012 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 275.9 | 55.6 | 113 |
| Seat Belts | 206.9 | 28 | 14.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 103.4 | 69.4 | 39.1 |
| Engine | 69 | 63.6 | 127.7 |
| Power Train | 69 | 77.8 | 110.4 |
| Electrical System | 51.7 | 128 | 134.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 | 275.9 | 55.6 | 113 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 206.9 | 28 | 14.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 103.4 | 69.4 | 39.1 |
| Engine | 4 | 69 | 63.6 | 127.7 |
| Power Train | 4 | 69 | 77.8 | 110.4 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 51.7 | 128 | 134.9 |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 51.7 | 37.6 | 60.4 |
| Suspension | 2 | 34.5 | 156.4 | 17.8 |
| Steering | 2 | 34.5 | 59.8 | 96.7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 2 | 34.5 | 16.7 | 24.2 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 17.2 | 15.1 | 55.5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 17.2 | 45.2 | 24.5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 17.2 | 20.5 | 39.5 |
| Seats | 1 | 17.2 | 3.8 | 9.3 |
36 unique complaints, 58 component mentions; 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE19014 | Preliminary evaluation | Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment | seats | 9 Sep 2019 | 25 Feb 2026 | — |
Other Dodge Caliber model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 4 | 779 | 137,691 |
| 2008 | 0 | 312 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 181 | 712 |
| 2010 | 2 | 117 | 1,435,748 |
| 2011 | 2 | 110 | 1,446,721 |
| 2012 | 1 | 36 | 1,435,625 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Dodge Caliber model years · Dodge: 118 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Caliber have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign name this model year; the most recent, 16V668000, was reported to NHTSA on 15 Sep 2016 and concerns air bags. Across all model years the Dodge Caliber line has 8 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2012 Dodge Caliber?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2012 Dodge Caliber complain about most?
Air Bags: 16 of 58 component mentions (275.9 per 1,000). Next is seat belts with 12. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.