CarComplaints.com Notes: The first year of the new Dodge Dart had a rough start, with owners reporting a disproportionate number of engine and transmission problems.

For transmission, the main complaints are transmission failure & rough shifting. So far, average mileage for transmission failure is 25,000 miles. Not good.

For engine problems, it usually starts with the engine light coming on for any number of reasons: bad sensors, ignition coil replacement, bad wiring, faulty gas cap ... dealers are replacing various components with varying degrees of success, or telling owners they can't duplicate the issue.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,563 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Dodge Dart electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Dodge Dart Owner Comments (Page 5 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #137

Oct 292018

Dart

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The clutch stays stuck to the floor, then pressures up at times.I see many complaints about this online.

- Erath, LA, USA

problem #136

Jul 282018

Dart

  • 63,861 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. While driving 75 mph, the engine started revving, but the vehicle could not accelerate. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder and shut off. The contact had to wait an hour before the vehicle would restart. The vehicle was driven back home and later to an independent mechanic where it was initially diagnosed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer (crown Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dublin, 6350 perimeter loop rd, dublin, oh 43017, (888) 739-0282) where it was diagnosed that the electronic control module (ECM) failed. The part was ordered and the repairs were made, but the failure occurred while driving on the highway again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECM burned out the hydraulic actuator and the clutch, which caused slipping. The contact was informed that the actuator and the clutch needed to be replaced. The contact was waiting to hear back from the dealer and the manufacturer. The first repairs were covered under the federal emissions warranty. The contact was waiting to find out if the latest repairs would be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,861.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #135

Oct 092018

Dart

  • 54,000 miles
Car's engine compartment burst into flames during commute to work 0700 in the morning 10/09/2018, 65 degree day in 35 mph zone. 54,000 miles on car. Car was moving at 30mph when engine died and car started to smoke from under hood, within 60 seconds flames appeared from hood, my daughter driving the car got out just in time she was the only passenger. Lost all belongings in car.

- Wantagh, NY, USA

problem #134

Sep 172018

Dart

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

So this is like the third(3) time that my battery has gone dead. At first it was the stock battery. Then I bought a brand new on at my local auto zone for $200 and something. Then the same thing keeps happening. Once it happens the stirring wheel begins to get really really tight until you can't really move it. One day my girlfriend was driving it and she got stock in the middle of the highway because she couldn't move it. But it is really scary because you have cars behind you driving 60+mph and you pray that you don't get hit because you don't want nobody to get injured specially you. Hope Dodge does something about. Really starting to dislike the car I love. :/

- Dorchester, MA, USA

problem #133

Sep 162018

Dart

  • 16,900 miles
Shifting stick is stuck, the car appears to be stuck in reverse but actually is stuck in neutral, the key is stuck in the ignition and car won't turn on. Day prior to this car was park all day, later in the evening it was driven for about 3-5 miles and parked without an issue. Nothing was out of the ordinary until the next day when I tried to drive it again.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #132

Sep 082018

Dart

  • 44,000 miles
After doing some research I have come to find that Dodge Darts 2013 and newer have issues with batteries going dead. I have had to get the battery replaced in 2015 and and now having it replaced again. Other Dodge Dart owners have reported this on many car blogs and similar sites. There is no reason a car built in 2013 should go through 3 batteries in 5 years. I believe this is a design defect. I have attached the invoice from the service in 2015 and can provide the invoice for this service once I receive it.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #131

Aug 262018

Dart

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. While driving at unknown speeds in reverse, the gear shifter failed to move and the key failed to release from the ignition. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and the battery was disconnected. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #130

Mar 272018

Dart

  • 4 miles
I have an ongoing issue about the battery sign coming on sporadically. I took the car 3X to the dealer and nothing was found to be wrong. A couple of month later at least 5 different signs came up while driving, a warning about the power steering also appeared briefly and the steering wheel locked while driving. Luckily I was able to maneuver the car to a safe zone. I had the car towed to the dealership and yet again they found nothing, they told me that no signs appeared. Attached is the one picture I was able to take once I was able to move to a safe zone. Im just scared to drive the car and have this happen again, more so since went that happened I had my two small children with me in the car. I also have a video but I cant upload it.

- Coram, NY, USA

problem #129

Aug 172018

Dart

  • 45,000 miles
I have had to take the car in every 2,000 miles or so to have it recalibrated(engine light on), the drivers headlight went out, shop where I bought it said it's the headlight assembly, bought one and had regular mechanic put in, did not work. My regular mechanic said it is probably the headlight control module, and since I need to take it in again for recalibration I am trying to find out if the module was checked and have it replaced. Sorry I bought this car, it's in the shop every 3-4 months!!!

- Bloomington, MN, USA

problem #128

Aug 042018

Dart

  • 70,000 miles
I took my Dodge Dart into a dealership after it said service transmission they said nothing was wrong with it so I drove it some more and now it said service transmission, no reverse, and engine temp to hot so I called crystler and they said that there is nothing they can do about it since it's out of warranty I have only had this car since January 24th of this year I shouldnt be having this problem with it and the hun I look the VIN up it says it's a Dodge Dart SXT when it's a rallye so something don't make since I don't feel like I should be screwed over and have to pay 8,000$ for a broken car

- Sparta, WI, USA

problem #127

Jul 082018

Dart

  • 82,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In the last 4 weeks, while driving, my car has displayed a "service transmission" error and "gear not available error." The first time was on I-10 and it occurred and I had to pull on the side or the interstate. My card was in D, but it would not drive or reverse. I turned it off and tried to turn it back on, but the car would not crank same service messages above popped up. After sitting on the side of the interstate for 20 mins, I turned it back ok and I was only able to go about 30 miles per hour. I was able to get back to my hotel room. The message disappear and the engine light went off, so the dealership was unable to find the problem. Yesterday, on July 8, 2018, the same problem occurred. This time I was driving on interstate 75, going about 65 mph, and the same error message popped up again. I had to pulled to the side or the interstate again, because my car would not drive. I turned it off again and waited for 5 mins and I was able to ease back to my home. As of right now, the dealership still can't find the problem. Though they can't find the problems, I am seeing several owners experiencing the same issues with their 2013 models. I've found several forums explaining the same problem that I am having as well as youtube videos. Can someone please get Dodge to do a recall on this issue.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #126

Jun 212018

Dart

  • 87,401 miles
My radio has blacked out for no reason. My mileage on my digital instrument panel is flashing. When I take it to the Dodge dealer with this being a known issue, they want to charge me $128 dollar diagnostic fee in which I do not have. I have asked both my mechanic and a radio installer and they both have said that the mileage flashing is a concern along with the radio blackened out. That one problem could lead to another. Possible cause is the control module for the entire car, which could lead to door locks going haywire, the wipers going on and off, etc. My car was stationary when yhe radio went out and the mileage flashing. Radio usually goes out for about 10 mins and comes back on. But not this time.

- West Point, VA, USA

problem #125

Feb 062017

Dart

  • 50,000 miles
I had my 2013 Dodge Dart for 3 years and for a year and a half I've had problems with tires to the point where they popped while driving, brand new tires, used tires it didn't matter. I spent so much money on just tires. To top it off I can't get the check engine light off because of the BCM and a leak somewhere. I went through all the procedure I brought a new gas cap, I brought a new sensor, I checked the wires no holes and nothing has worked. I still have two codes on my vehicle still after spending a lot of money to get it off

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #124

Apr 142018

Dart

  • 650,000 miles
My car is currently drivable however I recently found out that I need the oil pressure monitor replaced along with the wiring in the steering system due to oil damage from the oil pressure monitor being broken. The radio and rear view camera also need to be replaced. These are too many issues for a fairly new vehicle. Apparently there have been numerous changes complaints about this vehicle but I'm continuously being told that there are no recalls despite ongoing issues with the vehicle that have to deal with manufacturing issues. The radio started malfunctioning over a year ago. The windshield wipers/oil pressure switch issues have only been happening approximately 2 months. The rear view mirror stopped working today. The car has also has issues stall no, not starting, and cutting off while the car is stopped for about a year now.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #123

Apr 032018

Dart

  • 64,000 miles
This is a safety issue and should be covered under warranty at any time. I have owned several cars and this has never, ever happened before!! I called my local dealership and informed them of my issue. The service dept. Attendant told me to hurry in so they could look at it. I left work early for them to tell me that, yes there is an issue. He then stated that I would need to wait a week to make an appointment for my car to be seen. I took it back to my local dealership last night and did an early drop off, since my appointment was for April 10th. I called at 1:00 since I hadn't heard anything from the dealership. Miguel then stated that they hadn't had an opportunity to look at my car! I asked what the point was for me to make an appointment and take it in early if my vehicle was not going to be "looked" at" he proceeded to tell me they aren't able to look at my car until the cars ahead of mine were fixed. Why make an appointment" he then called me two hours later and stated that I would need to pay $400 for the sensor module to be replaced. Honestly, since so many people are having the exact same issue maybe Dodge should have a class action lawsuit against them to fix this safety issue. I am a single mother of 3 teenagers. It is difficult to keep up financially when all of these problems are occuring in a relatively new car!!! in January I had to pay the dealership $500 for the dash module to be replaced! I purchased this vehicle in December of 2014 and it seems like I have had one problem after another, the battery, the main module, the key fob, the seatbelt system, to name a few. I am very unhappy with this vehicle and would really caution those that want to buy a Dodge Dart. Afterall, it can't be that great, their own company doesn't stand behind an essential part of the vehicle. I guess it's about the money, not the people lives or safety.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #122

Apr 022018

Dart

  • 100,500 miles
I have been having ongoing problems with my 2013 Dart SXT since about 5 months after purchase. One of the first things that happened was the passenger door handle coming off - more than once - and having to be fixed. I believe this occurred three times. Each time it was "fixed" and then the handle would come off again. The last time the handle came off, I was no longer under warranty so now I just have a passenger door with no handle until I can afford to get that fixed. As far as the electrical problems I have had: The dash display goes completely dark and resets itself when I am driving - especially if the weather changes; my traction control and check engine lights come on randomly; my heat/ac turns on or up without anyone touching it (at random) and I've frequently had problems with trying to get the vehicle to start when it is cold outside. My remote start stopped working over a year ago, but because I first had my electric worked on at frank fletcher Dodge, and had to take it back a second time because the problems weren't fixed, I stopped trying. Any other place I've taken my car always suggests I go back to the place where the electrical work started but I do not want to do that because it seems like problems get worse every time I have taken it to get fixed. My dash/clock resets at complete random. I have been driving and hit pot holes on the street and bumps on the highway that made the whole system reset while I was still driving. Even this Monday, I started my car at the end of my workday only to find that my clock and audio settings were reset again. I was trying to keep track of the service records from frank fletcher Dodge and others but may have lost some from all of the times I have had to call them in the past few years. I have been expecting some sort of recall or buy back due to the all of the complaints that have been filed, but no luck.

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #121

Jan 092018

Dart

  • 71,000 miles
While driving on the interstate, my car caught fire. I noticed my battery light come on about 1 mile from my exit and less than a minute later fluid sprayed onto my windshield from under my hood. I immediately pulled off to the side of the interstate and as soon as I stopped, smoke started pouring out from under my hood. I walked away from the car and called 911 at that point. During the 911 call there was only smoke coming out from the engine bay area. Right near the end of the call I started to see plastic that was on fire dripping below the car onto the grass. The fire department arrived less than 5 minutes later and the entire engine bay was in flames, 10-20 feet high. The fire melted all the plastics and most of the metal outside of the frame and engine. Even the steel hood was melted away and gone. My car had a long history of electrical issues dating back a little over a year from the time of the fire. During that time, the electrical issues encountered included the dash becoming completely unresponsive and no electronics working, the dash screen rebooting while driving, the car cutting off while driving, the speedometer and tachometer not working, and more. During the trips to the dealership, they replaced the PCM, BCM (three times), and the battery. At one point, Chrysler engineering was involved and they were unable to determine what was wrong and said the car looked like it was struck by lightning. Enough parts were finally replaced to fix the car, temporarily, before more issues. A couple months before the fire I tried to get Chrysler to buy the car back because of the electrical issues but it was denied. After the fire, Chrysler and keffer both denied any fault on their part. Yet, I have a third party fire report showing the fire was electrical and started in the area of the BCM, PCM and battery. All the prior faulted parts.

- Stallings, NC, USA

problem #120

Feb 012017

Dart

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that the wipers failed to turn off, and the automatic start function failed to work because the turn signals and horn activated when attempting to use the fob. The dealer (eastgate Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, 500 shadeland ave, indianapolis, in 46219, (317) 352-9361) stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #119

Feb 022018

Dart

  • 47,826 miles
For years my cars traction light will randomly come on and sometimes my gear would stick, every time the dealership would say they could not find anything and the light would turn off. Now my car keeps slipping into neutral well I'm on the freeway going abouy 75/80 mpg. Now it's doing it constantly. This has been going on since I bought the vehicle brand new in 2014.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #118

Dec 112017

Dart

  • 130,000 miles
The dash instrument cluster went out on my vehicle. I was driving out of the parking lot, no warning just went black. The speedometer, tach, gas gauge, engine lite, tire pressure oil indicator nothing works. I feel this is a safety issue. The quote for repair is 1500.00

- Front Royal, VA, USA

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