Does the Dodge Caliber fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Dodge Caliber records 12.64 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.66 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+7.98, 95% interval +7.32 to +8.64). It ranks 21 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Dodge Caliber by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Dodge Caliber is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 1,017 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 1,017 | 9.14 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 109 | 0.98 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 84 | 0.76 |
| Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive | 51 | 0.46 |
| A steering ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment | 50 | 0.45 |
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 steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.2% of Dodge Caliber MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,154 miles later (787 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 787 (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 body, chassis and structure failures · 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 suspension failures · Dodge Caliber tyres failures · Dodge Caliber visibility failures