2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt A passed 66.9% of its 514 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 6.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (22.4%) and lighting & signalling (21.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, ball joint and position lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 67 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.7% in the 30-60k band and 36.5% in the 120-150k band, a 12.8-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 41.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.4% | 115 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 42 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.0% | 41 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.4% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 67 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 57 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 50 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 35 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 34 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 45.7% | 235 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 125 |
| 3 | Other defects | 22.2% | 114 |
| 4 | Brakes | 21.0% | 108 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 71 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 76 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 35.1% |
| 90-120k | 165 | 35.1% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 36.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 121 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 93 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 91 | 37.4% |
| 2025 | 58 | 41.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Caliber Sxt A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 22.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (22.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt As pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 514 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt A?
Suspension, recorded in 22.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (21.8%).
Does the 2007 Caliber Sxt A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 30-60k band to 36.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 514 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.