Used car guide

2008 Dodge Caliber: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Dodge Calibers, from 218 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 218 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

218MOT tests in 2025

48%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)

5,400typical miles a year

3.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Dodge Calibers than on all cars registered in 2008.

Shock absorbers3.5× usual

Dodge Caliber
28% All 2008 cars
8%

Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Ball joint3× usual

Dodge Caliber
19.3% All 2008 cars
6.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, against 3.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual

Dodge Caliber
23.9% All 2008 cars
11.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.7%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Sub-frame2.3× usual

Dodge Caliber
17.9% All 2008 cars
7.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Track rod ends2.6× usual

Dodge Caliber
14.2% All 2008 cars
5.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

By area

The share of 2008 Dodge Caliber MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

74% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Lights and electrics

34% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Tyres

33% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

33% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Rust and bodywork

25% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

17% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Dodge Caliber?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2007	165	Suspension 54%
2006	134	Suspension 63%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Dodge Calibers registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score