Dodge Caliber
From 1,606 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Calibers fare better: 2009 models pass at 62.6% vs 58.5% for 2008.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 and 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. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 300 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 300 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 113 |
| 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 | 97 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 72 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 67 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 65 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 64 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 62 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 61 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 58 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 24% of Caliber failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 38.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £152.
Dodge Caliber on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 314 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 314. At this rate, roughly 4.2 years until none remain. Now at 20.6% of its peak (6,407 in 2009 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 698 | 620 | +0 | -58 | -58 |
| 2025 Q2 | 738 | 638 | +0 | -72 | -72 |
| 2025 Q1 | 815 | 633 | +0 | -82 | -82 |
| 2024 Q4 | 883 | 647 | +0 | -102 | -102 |
| 2024 Q3 | 970 | 662 | +0 | -100 | -100 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,057 | 675 | +0 | -101 | -101 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,152 | 681 | +0 | -96 | -96 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,262 | 667 | +0 | -78 | -78 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber Sxt A | Petrol | 314 | 51% |
| Caliber Sxt Sport A | Petrol | 121 | 19% |
| Caliber Sxt D | Diesel | 69 | 11% |
| Caliber Se | Petrol | 60 | 10% |
| Caliber Sxt Sport D | Diesel | 57 | 9% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 62.6% | 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 |
| 2008 | 58.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2007 | 53.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2006 | 58% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Calibers tested had between 84,381 and 120,713 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 98,864 median miles, the Caliber has 0.043 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Dodge models
| Dodge Ram | 84.8% |
| Dodge Nitro | 67.2% |
| Dodge Unclassified | 90.9% |
| Dodge Journey | 67.5% |
Common questions
What is the Dodge Caliber MOT pass rate?
The Dodge Caliber has a 57.6% MOT pass rate based on 1,606 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Dodge Caliber?
The most common MOT failure on the Dodge Caliber is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 300 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Dodge Calibers are on UK roads?
There are 698 Dodge Calibers currently licensed on UK roads, with 620 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Dodge Caliber at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Dodge Caliber is 98,864 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,381 and 120,713 miles.
Buying a used Caliber?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 57.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £152 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.