The Dodge Dart was an attractive and efficient ride, but it had some serious issues with its transmission and engine. Its 2013 debut year alone registered over 1,200 complaints with the NHTSA.
Key Points
- The Dodge Dart was a compact car that was built for the commuter market between 2012 and 2016.
- The 2013 debut year was plagued by problems, with over 1,200 complaints logged with the NHTSA.
- Later models faced recalls over transmission issues, and the Dart scores below average for reliability.
Dodge Dart: A Short-lived, Often-loved, and Problematic Compact Car
Once the Dodge Neon started to look outdated, the manufacturer needed to replace the compact car with something attention-grabbing to compete in the second decade of the 21st century. The solution was the Dodge Dart, a sporty, affordable compact car with front-wheel drive and a wallet-friendly fuel economy that was sold for the 2013 to 2016 model years. For those that dreamed of driving a rally car, the Rallye and GT versions delivered a sport-tuned suspension, exterior trim kits, and sport seats.
The Dodge Dart’s contemporary styling made it an appealing option as a commuter car, but its transmission, engine, and electrical systems were susceptible to chronic issues. While its debut garnered loads of attention at the auto shows, it quickly lost its luster as its reputation suffered in the service centers.
2013 Dodge Dart Debuts with Curiosity, and Plenty of Complaints
The debut year for the Dodge Dart was also the year plagued by many problems–1,220 complaints to be exact, all registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Plus, it has six open recalls.
The powertrain is seemingly the worst problem, with 516 complaints, followed by 265 for the brakes, 214 for the electrical system, and 195 for the engine. Recalls began popping up that tried to address the growing complaints.
The first recall was issued in June 2013 over the engine stalling in cold temperatures. It affected around 12,500 vehicles with the 1.4L MultiAir engine and needed a quick reprogram to fix. Later, over 23,000 cars were recalled for a faulty transmission that could make the Dart shift into neutral unexpectedly, cutting acceleration and possibly causing an accident.
In November 2015, over 105,000 Darts fell under a recall over an issue with leaking engine oil that resulted in a loss of power brake assist, making it difficult to bring the car to a controlled stop.
Finally, an April 2019 recall was issued for all years of the Dart, because the six-speed automatic transmission could fail. Owners reported that the car would suddenly stop, then fail to restart, requiring multiple trips to the dealership over the chronic problem.
2014 Dodge Dart Experiences Less Issues than Previous Year
The number of complaints dropped dramatically for the model year 2014. The NHTSA only received 291, which is about average for a compact car of this age. Three of the five recalls for the 2013 apply to the 2014 including the bushing on the shifter cable, transmission control module, and the bad brake booster.
Electrical problems are one of the more common complaints for this Dart. A few owners have had their driver instrument cluster suddenly go dark while driving. When one owner brought theirs into the dealer, he had to wait a week for the part to come in. The dealer said that it was a typical MOPAR failure.
At least one driver that bought their Dart used said that theirs continued to stall when driving on cold mornings. Before the car shuts off several warning lights appear on the dash, indicating some kind of major electrical error.
There are over 50 complaints in the Unknown section, but many of them apply to the lingering transmission problems. At least three owners stated that they would move the shifter into Park, but the car indicated that it was not in Park and would not shut off or let them remove the key.
Powertrain Problems Linger on 2015 Dodge Dart
The third year for the Dart had complaints rise to 388 at the NHTSA with the engine, powertrain, and electrical systems remaining the highlights for problems. Five recalls were issued including the same transmission control module and bad shifter cable bushing found in previous years.
New recalls include one that covers a few more than 1,100 vehicles. A refresh is needed for the powertrain control module to ensure that backup files are present on monitoring software for engine torque.
Another recall applies to the 2015 Dodge Dart Aero and its tire pressure monitoring system. It did not turn on the warning light when low pressure was detected. The dealer should have reconfigured the TPMS to function properly.
Finally, any Dart from 2015 or 2016 that had a fire extinguisher in the back fell under the massive Kidde recall. Owners were directed to contact Kidde for a replacement to ensure it would work when needed.
2016 Dodge Dart: Final Year and the Fewest Problems
Dodge decided to end production for the Dart after model year 2016 due to low sales, which dropped by a third for the final season. As such, complaints were reduced to 172 at the NHTSA. One new recall appeared that pertained just to the 2016. A few more than 53,000 bad windshield wiper pumps were installed at the factory, causing the wiper circuits to fail when they were turned on. The dealer would replace the pump at no charge and check the existing circuits for proper function.
A slightly different complaint did surface this year. After the usual chronic engine stalling problem, Car Complaints noted the second most common issue is a thermostat failure in the electrical system. The average failure occurred around 45,000 miles and would cost you more than $500. What happens when your thermostat goes out? There is no heat in the cabin.
Despite its Known Issues, is the Dodge Dart a Reliable Car?
While Repair Pal says that the Dodge Dart has above-average reliability, if you take a look at their own statistics, that isn’t entirely the case. It is ranked 28th out of 36 compact cars. You will need to spend nearly $600 a year on maintenance and repairs compared to the $526 average for the segment. Also, it is slightly more likely to need a serious fix if you bring it into the shop. At Vehicle History, owners ranked it 21 out of 30 compact cars for driver satisfaction.
Ultimately, when a particular model consistently ranks in the bottom third for owner satisfaction and that is backed up by a tidal wave of complaints, you should pay attention to those problematic areas. The Dodge Dart is known for stalling on cold mornings, its transmission has a hard time staying in gear, and the electrical system may fry at any minute.
Since the last year of the Dart was 2016, some problems that you find on one in 2021 may be the result of simple old age. If you are thinking about adding one to your garage, make sure to have it thoroughly inspected by a professional mechanic before you buy.
Photos: Dodge, Evox Images