Does the Dodge Caliber fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Dodge Caliber records 12.46 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 10.01 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.45, 95% interval +1.79 to +3.11). It ranks 162 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Dodge Caliber by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Dodge Caliber is “Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced”, recorded 398 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 398 | 3.58 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 263 | 2.36 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 210 | 1.89 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 127 | 1.14 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 110 | 0.99 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,124 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Dodge Caliber gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
15.7% of Dodge Caliber MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,911 miles later (548 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 548 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Dodge Caliber 2006 · Dodge Caliber 2007 · Dodge Caliber 2008 · Dodge Caliber 2009 · Dodge Caliber in Finland · Dodge Caliber in the Netherlands · Dodge Caliber by postcode area · Dodge Caliber brakes failures · Dodge Caliber vehicle identification failures · Dodge Caliber lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Dodge Caliber noise, emissions and leaks failures · Dodge Caliber road wheels failures · Dodge Caliber seat belts and airbags failures · Dodge Caliber steering failures · Dodge Caliber suspension failures · Dodge Caliber tyres failures · Dodge Caliber visibility failures