2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt D — MOT failures & pass rate
311 MOT tests on the 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt D are in this dataset, and 67.5% of them passed. That is 6.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 23.5% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.5% in the 60-90k band and 46.0% in the 150k+ band, a 21.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 46.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.7% in 2021 to 25.7% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.5% | 73 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 25 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.0% | 25 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 42 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 35 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 21 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 20 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 18 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 17 |
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 | 46.6% | 145 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.3% | 88 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.3% | 85 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.9% | 68 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.5% | 42 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 38 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 49 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 117 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 35.5% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 46.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 72 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 51 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 35 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Caliber Sxt D
On a 2007 Caliber Sxt D, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (23.5% 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 (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 Ds pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 311 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Dodge Caliber Sxt D?
Suspension, recorded in 23.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.7%).
Does the 2007 Caliber Sxt D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 60-90k band to 46.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 311 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.