Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Dodge Caliber?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2006 Dodge Caliber?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2006 Dodge Caliber?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2006 Dodge Caliber vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2006 Dodge Caliber reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,440 vehicles, the 2006 Dodge Caliber has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Dodge Caliber?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Dodge Caliber are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (90.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (89.3% of vehicles), Play in steering rack inner joint(s) (70.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2006 Dodge Caliber?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Dodge Caliber (2006)

1,440 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.7% first-time pass rate

2006 Dodge Caliber

CarHunch analysed 1,440 real MOT records for the 2006 Dodge Caliber. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2006 Dodge Caliber passes its MOT first time in only 67.7% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of these vehicles (48.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point — a significant red flag for any potential buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly, at 69.1% and 66.2% pass rates respectively, so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.

At 74,141 miles median mileage for a 2006 model, these cars are running at typical wear levels, yet they're racking up an average of 5.11 failures and 24.2 advisories per test, suggesting systemic build or component issues rather than just age-related decay. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the dangerous defect areas that plague this generation — suspension, braking, and electrics are likely culprits given the failure counts — and factor in above-average repair costs.

The 2006 Dodge Caliber has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

67.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

48.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.11

Over 15.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

74k

Middle half: 61k–88k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 24.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,440 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,440 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 90.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 70.6%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 49.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 31.9%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Lighting 29.7%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,440 Dodge Caliber cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

69.1%

Petrol

717 vehicles

66.2%

Diesel

720 vehicles

Before you buy a 2006 Dodge Caliber

Based on MOT data from 1,440 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 48.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (50%)	720	66.2%	5.32
Petrol (50%)	717	69.1%	4.9

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,767 Dodge Caliber vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 32.3%

1,540

Silver 25.4%

1,211

Red 16.2%

774

Blue 13.3%

634

Orange 11.7%

559

Grey 0.3%

White 0.3%

Bronze 0.2%

Yellow 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Dodge Caliber vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

74,141

typical

61,142

low mileage

88,395

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Dodge Caliber vehicles fall between 61,142 and 88,395 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,142 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 61,142–88,395 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Dodge Calibers sit.

⚠ Over 119,333 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Dodge Caliber — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 11% of 2006 Dodge Calibers are still active.

Numbers are declining — 125 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (11% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

15.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.11

Avg failures per vehicle

24.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Dodge Caliber: All Caliber years → Which year to buy? →

2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Dodge →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Dodge Caliber stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on