Dodge Dart Reliability Problems

Dart owners have made 598 complaints over 4 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 26th in overall reliability out of 29 Dodge models, with real engine and interior concerns.

2 Common Dodge Dart Problems

A list of some of the most common issues Dart owners have to deal with.

  1. 2.4L Tigershark Oil Consumption

    A serious defect in the 2.4L Tigershark engine causes an excessive amount of oil to be burned during normal operation. Owners must constantly top off the oil and have consumption tests run at the dealership, or risk the engine seizing up an…

    Continue reading article "2.4L Tigershark Oil Consumption" Tigershark engine

  2. Stuck in Park

    Can't shift the car into reverse or drive! Now what? This is most commonly reported from Dodge Avenger owners, but there have also been similar complaints about other Dodge makes as well as other Chrysler and Jeep vehicles having a similar …

    Continue reading article "Stuck in Park" Red arrow points at a disassembled gear shifter

What Dart Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Dart Generations

Generations are groups of model years where few, if any, changes were made to the vehicle which means their model years tend to break in similar ways. The Dart has 1 generation available in North American markets.

Dart Key Numbers

  1. 598 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 249 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 10 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Dart Class-Action Lawsuits

The Dart has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

Recent Dart News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Could a wounded Dodge Dart clutch lawsuit finally be coming to an end? It's certainly been a wild-ride.

    The now five-year-old lawsuit says the clutch in the 2013-2015 Dart can drop and stay on the floor. Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler when the lawsuit started, formerly-formerly just plain ole' Chrysler) contends they addressed this problem with multiple service bulletins and customer satisfaction campaigns.…

    keep reading article "Could a 5-Year-Old Dodge Dart Clutch Lawsuit Finally Be Ending? Maybe."

  2. The windshield washer pump in the 2016 Dodge Dart is way too amped.

    In April 2016, engineers were able to duplicate the failure of the [windshield wiper] body control module and in May had identified the cause as transient voltage spikes coming from the windshield washer pump.

    The investigation came after hundreds of warranty claims were filed about the wipers failing. The recalled Darts will need a kinder, gentler pump.

    keep reading article "2016 Darts Need A New Wiper Pump"

  3. Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) says certain Dodge Darts are missing a software backup

    in the powertrain control module (PCM).

    "FCA is recalling 1,200 model year 2016 Dodge Dart cars equipped with 2-liter engines and manual transmissions. In addition, some 2015 Dodge Darts are included if they have the same engines and transmissions and were serviced between September 15, 2015, and January 12, 2016."

    The PCM monitors the engine's torque output, and if it fails it won't be able to stop what FCA calls "an unauthorized torque event." That's twisted.

    keep reading article "Dart Recalled for Missing PCM Software"

  5. The 2013-15 Dodge Dart has been recalled because the car can shift into neutral for no other reason than to mess up your day.

    The Darts are all equipped with dual die-clutch transmissions. Correction: dual dry-clutch transmissions. My mistake.

    Fiat Chrysler (FCA US) says that the transmission control module mounting bracket can "apply to much force and cause a circuit board malfunction". If that happens when you're out on the open road, hang on tight:

    "My son was driving our car on the freeway, he heard a grinding noise, the car shifted into neutral all by itself and it would not come out of neutral. He took it into Vacaville Dodge (in California) who advised they fixed the problem and off we went. Less than one month later it happened again."

    Full details about the recall --- including manufacturing dates, what dealers will have to do to fix it, and FCA's contact information --- can be found on CarComplaints.com.

    keep reading article "Transmissions Recalled for Magically Shifting Into Neutral"

  6. There are three things, according to owners, that happen when you press the brake pedal in the 2013 Dodge Dart.

    Spoiler alert: none of them involve stopping.

    1. The brake pedal becomes very difficult to press
    2. There are audible hisses and pops
    3. Braking distances increase when driving

    In fact, some owners say the only way to stop their car is to use the emergency brake (just don't mention that to these 2 owners who say their parking brake doesn't work).…

    keep reading article "2013 Dart Brakes Under Investigation For Being Awful in Pretty Much Every Way"

Other Dodge Models