2012 Dodge Caliber Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
22 -24 City / 27 -32 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
158 -172
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Carole L
Dependability and durability, plus it's stylish and fun to drive as well as comfortable in longer trips. The back seats get an A plus for space and comfort.
The compactness but lots of room. It fits my lifestyle. Outside of my '64 mustang this has been my favorite vehicle.
accountCircle Eric S
Dodge caliber awesome vehicle.
My car is awesome. I enjoy dodge vehicles. It is a reliable vehicle and I have had no mechanical problems with my vehicle. It is a neutral color. The next vehicle I plan on buying is a dodge. The dodge caliber is a good vehicle. I wish I went out and bought it sooner.
accountCircle Caden F
It has a 'fridge' like compartment in the glove box, which puts ac into it.
I am personally a huge fan of the slapstick shifting option! I would say that the caliber has some pretty bad blind spots for the size of the car, namely the portion of the car connecting the windshield to the right and left windows. The cup holder lights are handy, and the 'fridge' glove compartment is very useful for cooling beverages. The trunk is kind of small in comparison to other hatchbacks.
accountCircle Kathy H
Feel Good Car That Looks More Expensive
The Dodge Caliber is comfortable to ride in or drive. The automatic in the floor is easy to execute. It is nice looking, having a classic but modern small sedan look to it. I like the radio keeps playing after you turn the ignition off until you push the knob in, cool.
accountCircle Alesandro R
Very comfortable and spacious
The only thing that I have done has been the revisions, change of tires and little else, consumes little, what if you have to be peeling of the oil but otherwise great
accountCircle Kia B
I loved the house plug that was in the car so that I can plug things up.
No problems at all my car was particle new and is just what my family needs to get back and forth from work and school. Very comfortable as well love everything about it. It is safe and easy to get repairs done if something was to happen. Wouldn't trade it for nothing.
accountCircle Dennis G
As great a car as it is, the gas mileage is terrible for such a small car.
My Caliber is great vehicle. Actually, I'm shocked it is as well made as it is. It is a hatchback, but rides like a SUV. The seats sit high, making it a pleasure to see and drive. I love my car!
accountCircle Dean C
It would be much better choice overall
Boasting an innovative, space-efficient hatchback body and unique features like flip-down tailgate speakers and a dedicated iPod holder. Unfortunately, those good ideas were spoiled by sloppy execution.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Elaina J
It is a silver 4 door sedan dodge caliber that is it.
It has brake problems, the tire is always leaking and it has a short in the electric part cause the light is always going in and out and the engine light stay on. Then again my dad do not keep it serviced the way a car should be serviced. It is his car I just drove it when he lets me but other than that Drives fine.
accountCircle Haley B
Pros and cons of dodge caliber 2012 sxt.
It has really good handling, the gas mileage is fantastic, it fits easily into all parking spaces, the sound system is very good stock. The back seat is very small, the air conditioning does not blow to the back very well, the trunk size is very small, and the road noise is extremely loud.
accountCircle Sherry W
Do not be fooled it looks good but runs bad.
The Dodge caliber is not a woman's car. It feels like it should be a man's work car. It is noisy inside and drives rough. It uses a lot of gas and the brake wear out really fast. I would not recommend it for anyone wanting an economical vehicle. It thought that it would be good because of the size of the car.
accountCircle Angela D
I do not recommend this vehicle
I would never buy another caliber. This vehicle was made cheap. The performance is awful. My car guzzles gas. My tail lights are full of water though they aren't cracked. My headlights smoke when it rains. Nothing is easy to work on yourself. The motor for my power windows has went out twice. I would avoid this vehicle.
accountCircle Kara S
It runs smoothly, is good on gas and is reliable.
It is a super reliable car. The only issue I have had is with the computer and it seems to be something that most users experience.
accountCircle Bridget M
Gets you through rain or shine!
I like that is reliable. I like that the seats go down for more storage. I don't like that door locks, windows and other functions are not automatic.
accountCircle Joshua P
The best part of my vehicle is the satellite radio.
My car has been good. Little bit of issues that were cause by me. But other than that the vehicle has held its own and done what has been needed to be done. Very spacious and supports my everyday needs. Able to fit a booster seat and car seat in the car comfortably.
accountCircle randy G
Engine has a lot of power.
Very expensive to fix when something goes wrong or breaks. Gas mileage isn't great. Was driving down a major highway when the motor decided to go out without any warning and it was several thousand to fix. I will definitely be looking into ford or possibly Toyota soon.

Dodge Caliber Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
SE
158 HP 27 MPG 5 Seats
car
SXT Plus
158 HP 24-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
SXT
158 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
car
Rush
172 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
car
Uptown
158-172 HP 23-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Dodge Caliber Owner Reviews

3.27
126 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 26%
4 stars 27%
3 stars 15%
2 stars 11%
1 star 21%
accountCircle Caden F on June 6, 2021
It has a 'fridge' like compartment in the glove box, which puts ac into it.
I am personally a huge fan of the slapstick shifting option! I would say that the caliber has some pretty bad blind spots for the size of the car, namely the portion of the car connecting the windshield to the right and left windows. The cup holder lights are handy, and the 'fridge' glove compartment is very useful for cooling beverages. The trunk is kind of small in comparison to other hatchbacks.
accountCircle Michael V on May 28, 2021
The surprisingly durable and affordable dodge caliber.
It's a great all weather vehicle. It does not require much maintenance other than tune up and regular oil changes. Great on gas and gets good miles to the gallon. It was affordable and has a great factory and transmission warranty. Its four door and easily accessible. The interior is spacious and the ride is smooth and comfortable. The shocks and struts are durable. It is excellent in the snow and bad weather.
View All Reviews (126) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Kayla M.

Reliable, comfortable, not many technical issues. It's extremely easy to drive, it also has pretty decent mileage. It has lasted a very long time and is going strong for the amount of miles it has on it at the moment. It sits at a nice height, it's not too low. It also has a decent amount of storage space for taking things places.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Kayla M.

I wish it was a little bit bigger. It also has had a few things break such as the trunk, and the window. But other than that it is pretty good and reliable. Also the engine has given us one problem but not too major.

Ranks #17 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2012 Dodge Caliber has an average owner rating of 4.17 out of 5 which ranks it #17 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2012 Land Rover LR4
4.67
2
car
2012 Honda CR-V
4.52
17
car
2012 Dodge Caliber
4.12

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Dodge Caliber has a combined MPG of 32 which ranks it #1 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
2012 Dodge Caliber
32 MPG
1
Tie
car
2012 Toyota Matrix
32 MPG
2
Tie
car
2012 Nissan cube
31 MPG

Is The 2012 Dodge Caliber A Good Car?

Yes, it has not given me any problems really. It is reliable and runs well. I have had it for 7 years now and it has not needed any real work done. The only issue it is had is sometimes you have to... Read More
Brandie T.
Yes it is. It has very good gas mileage. The seats lay down and it has enough storage in the back. It also has hidden compartments in the back on the sides.
Kum M.
This is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. It is reliable, low maintenance, and gets great gas mileage.
Laura A.
The vehicle is okay. It is a bit old. A/c works so whenever it get hot of cold it helps us stay warm or cool.
Gilbert H.
Mine has been excellent for the short length of time I have had it. The car is enjoyable to drive and comfortable to sit in. Gas mileage has been very good.
Sandy C.
It is a pretty good vehicle and I really like it. I am able to drive with good gas mileage and it runs and drives very smoothly.
Fran W.
Yes it is a good vehicle. This car is very economical to drive. The vehicle is also very comfortable to drive and looks great
Angel S.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Dodge Caliber?

Yes it is reliable, like I stated in the first question. It is really good on gas, I can fill the tank and make it last a week or longer as long as I do not go on really long distance trips.
Brandie T.
Very reliable. I have had a problem with a short in the back taillight. I had to replace that bulb on four separate times. I have only had to change the battery.
Kum M.
I have owned my vehicle for 3 years and have only had one major repair to date. It starts up without fail and runs beautifully.
Laura A.
It has some over 100,000 miles on it. It is runs okay with that many miles on it. The gas pedal is easy to accelerate so I have to very light with when pushing on the gas. Same org the brakes.
Gilbert H.
I have been told mine has a leak in the transmission. However, it has been totally reliable so far. No problems so far.
Sandy C.
Yes it is reliable but it also is an older car so yes it also has some problems. One it has high mileage and needs a tune up and tires.
Tina H.
I have owned mine for two years. To date, I have only had to put this car in the shop for a moderate repair two weeks ago
John W.

Is The 2012 Dodge Caliber A Good Value?

It was around 20 grand, but yes for what it is I think it was definitely a good investment. I haven't had to put much more money into it.
Brandie T.
I only have about 9,000 for mine. It was used. But I felt that it was a good value. Of course I do not do a lot of driving. My car only has about 77,000 miles on my vehicle.
Kum M.
The dodge caliber is very affordable as per compared to its competitors. Yes, the sale price is an excellent value especially because the vehicle gets great gas mileage and has low maintenance/repair... Read More
Laura A.
My mother bought it for I think $1,500 to $2,000. It was an okay deal it still runs. The check engine light is on.
Gilbert H.
I bought mine used. The list price was $6995, which I felt was a good buy for it is condition and year. In addition, it had low mileage. I feel it was a good value.
Sandy C.
Well it would probably cost about five thousand dollars today but I paid ten thousand for it years ago and it's been so a good car so I know it's a good value.
Julie T.
I am not sure what the final price was. However, it was under $10000. It is a great value thanks to the features
Guillermo B.

Related Articles for 2012 Dodge Caliber

From the Vehicle History blog

car
Dodge Caliber Transmission Problems: Poorly Designed CVT Likely to Fail Before 100,000 Miles
car
Dodge Emissions Recalls You NEED To Know About
car
All About The Dodge Caliber Engine Cradle Recalls
car
Dodge Caliber Subframe Recalls Worth Knowing About

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the how much does a dodge caliber transmission cost?

Answer: The transmission in a Dodge Caliber usually will have varying costs depending on whether You want a used or rebuilt one, or a brand new one. On average it will cost about $650 to $950 for a used transmission....
openInNew See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety