Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Dodge Caliber vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

49% 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 2008 Dodge Caliber reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,168 vehicles, the 2008 Dodge Caliber has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Dodge Caliber?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Dodge Caliber are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (73.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54.7% 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 2008 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 (2008)

1,168 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.4% first-time pass rate

2008 Dodge Caliber

CarHunch analysed 1,168 real MOT records for the 2008 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Dodge Caliber is a significant reliability concern: a 69.4% first-time pass rate trails the UK average by 10.6 percentage points, and nearly half of these cars (49.0%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both struggling around 69%, so fuel type won't improve your odds here.

These Calibers are running relatively light at 55,143 miles median (reasonable for 16 years old), yet they're averaging 4.68 failures per test, suggesting mechanical problems are developing regardless of mileage. The 24.5 advisories per vehicle indicate widespread wear across multiple systems—suspension, brakes, and emissions tend to be weak spots on this model. Before making an offer, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags any history of dangerous defects in the MOT records.

The 2008 Dodge Caliber has a below-average first-time pass rate (69.4% 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

69.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

49%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.68

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 42k–69k

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 24.5 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 1,168 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 1,168 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 75.1%

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.

Brake wear 54.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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.

Suspension & steering 28.5%

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Nearside Rear 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.

Other issues 26.6%

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,168 Dodge Caliber cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Dodge Caliber

Based on MOT data from 1,168 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49% 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
Petrol (76%)	883	69.6%	4.66
Diesel (24%)	283	68.8%	4.75

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 2008 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.

55,143

typical

41,887

low mileage

68,787

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Dodge Caliber vehicles fall between 41,887 and 68,787 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 41,887 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.

✓ 41,887–68,787 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Dodge Calibers sit.

⚠ Over 92,862 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Dodge Caliber — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 20% of 2008 Dodge Calibers are still active.

Numbers are declining — 202 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (20% 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

14.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.68

Avg failures per vehicle

24.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2006 2007 2009

Or browse all models: Dodge →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Dodge Caliber stacks up against a rival.

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