Dodge
Caliber
1,770 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Calibers pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 19.8 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
57.7%
Pass-after-fix
6.3%
Fail
34.8%
Avg miles
95,588
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Caliber: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 1,588 MOT tests, the Caliber returns 58.4% first-time pass — near the bottom of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is worn suspension bushes. A lamp out and worn suspension bushes round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 93,965, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 14–22
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
14–22
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
170 occurrences · 9.6% of tests
- 02
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
123 occurrences · 6.9% of tests
- 03
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
111 occurrences · 6.3% of tests
- 04
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
101 occurrences · 5.7% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
101 occurrences · 5.7% of tests
- 06
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
69 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 07
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
67 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 08
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
63 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 09
A tyre cords visible or damaged
56 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
56 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£228–£695
If every one of this Caliber's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Recall history
1 UK recall on record.
The Caliber has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Caliber?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Caliber and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.