Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 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 2009 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 2009 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 2009 Dodge Caliber vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

54% 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 2009 Dodge Caliber reliable?

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles, the 2009 Dodge Caliber has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Dodge Caliber?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 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 2009 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 (2009)

383 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.2% first-time pass rate

2009 Dodge Caliber

CarHunch analysed 383 real MOT records for the 2009 Dodge Caliber. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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

Moderate sample. 383 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2009 Dodge Caliber is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68.2% against the national benchmark of 80%. More concerning, 54% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering one.

These Calibers are running at modest mileage (median 67,415 miles for a 15-year-old car), yet they're still racking up an average of 4.83 failures and 28 advisories per vehicle—suggesting structural durability issues rather than neglect. Before viewing one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags the suspension, braking, and structural components, as the high dangerous defect rate points to these areas as chronic weak spots.

The 2009 Dodge Caliber has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.2% 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

68.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

54.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.83

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 54k–86k

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 28 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 383 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 383 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 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 383 Dodge Caliber cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Dodge Caliber

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 54.1% 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 (59%)	226	66.5%	5.11
Petrol (41%)	157	70.7%	4.42

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 2009 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.

67,415

typical

54,001

low mileage

86,005

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Dodge Caliber vehicles fall between 54,001 and 86,005 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 54,001 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.

✓ 54,001–86,005 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Dodge Calibers sit.

⚠ Over 116,106 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Dodge Caliber — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2009 Dodge Calibers are still active.

Numbers are declining — 75 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% 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

4.83

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Dodge →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Dodge Caliber stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on