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:
5 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 2
Average Mileage:
35,236 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Dodge Dart Owner Comments (Page 4 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #141

Mar 012019

Dart

  • 60,000 miles

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

Our vehicle keeps shutting off on highways, roads, etc. We always have children in the car. When we can finally start it again the whole electrical system then wants to shut down and the screen stays black for a long time.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #140

Mar 272019

Dart

  • 47,000 miles
The clutch gets stuck on the floor and I'm unable to shift gears. This happens on a daily basis. I've been stuck in my drive way because I can't get the gear into the reverse position. Same this has happened in traffic where I'm stuck because I can get the gear into first to move the car forward. Once I do get the gear to go the car shoots forward dangerously. There is also a significant loss of power. When trying to drive up a hill the car can barely move and the rpms go higher yet there's no power.

- Provo, UT, USA

problem #139

Mar 242019

Dart

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. While making a turn at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries and was hospitalized. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Marion, AL, USA

problem #138

Feb 092019

Dart

  • 100,000 miles

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

After fueling the car up, driving down the road, the engine completely shut down. This wasn't the 1st time.

- East Tawas, MI, USA

problem #137

Feb 062019

Dart

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall transmission issues and blind spot detector issues while in motion my right blind spot detector will turn even if nobody is in the proper parameters of the vehicle

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #136

Jan 012019

Dart

  • 85,000 miles
It appears there is an alarming noise coming from the engine when I start the car at degrees lower than 40. This is an intermittent issue but when it occurs I loose power while driving down the road resulting in my RPM's to jump higher than normal accompanied by vibration and rataling coming from under the hood or tire (its hard to tell). From my research, the cold start issue was a recall for 2013 Dodge Dart but it is not showing for my VIN. Could someone please reach out to me reguarding this complaint??

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #135

Nov 062018

Dart

  • 40,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that there had been multiple failures pertaining to the emergency brake and turbos. Also, the vehicle misfired and failed to start several times. While on an incline, the vehicle reversed when the emergency brake was applied. The dealer (baxter Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram omaha (17950 burt St, omaha, ne 68118, (402) 800-1230) was notified of the failures and diagnosed that the emergency brake needed to be replaced a third time because a porcelain piece surrounding the center electrode fractured and a plug came out of a piston top associated with the cylinder walls, which damaged the catalytic converter, the turbo, and the long block. The dealer replaced the parts. The contact was uncertain if the oem parts that were replaced caused the failures because, after the repairs, the failures continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and did not assist. The manufacturer recommended that the vehicle be taken to the dealer. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #134

Dec 302018

Dart

  • 100,000 miles
I have had 5 different places change my oil and at every one the filter has either come off in my hand or create a gap in the filter seal which is caused oil to start spraying all over the car and leaking all over the ground. All five times this is happened the filter is either going off in my hand or had the seal of the filter start leaking oil. Spraying oil all over in the engine compartment and causing me to lose all of my oil on the ground and all over the engine unknown if this is caused any other problems inside the engine yet every time this is happened I was just about to get on the freeway I was able to go somewhere else and have it taken care of with minimal driving without oil. This is has happened five times now at different locations changing the oil every time it's happened when you just change the oil and also when it's almost time to change oil again or anytime in between that. If I had made it on the freeway with any of these times that this is happened it could have been catastrophic to my engine and cause me to crash

- Cedar City, UT, USA

problem #133

Nov 272018

Dart

  • 49,241 miles
The car keeps cutting off. I crank it back up and it runs for a little bit and cuts right back off. I have had the battery and alternator check and that's not the issue.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #132

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 #131

Oct 102018

Dart

  • 75,000 miles

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

Car accelerates to 7000 rpms while attempting to pull out of a stop car doesn't move. It has happened 4 times at different intersections almost got hit from behind. Dealer cant duplicate error my fear is an accident.

- Pennsville, NJ, USA

problem #130

Oct 032017

Dart

  • 67,500 miles
While driving on the mountain roads to driving on the freeway to driving any where my turbo cuts off and I lose almost all power causing me to loose power going up a steep hill and almost get rear ended at least 3 times. Further more when I'm getting ready to merge onto the freeway and it cuts out causing me to almost be hit by truckers. I get a burning smell coming from the engine bay smells almost like oil or wire smell. My speed control is non functioning and my ebrake is also [xxx] near inoperable. I want to know why there hasn't been a total lemon law for 2013 Dodge Darts they are not safe to drive for the owner and anyone else on the road. So if this is a national highway transportation safety administration why is it not recalled!!!!! parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Tehachapi, CA, 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 072018

Dart

  • 75,000 miles
When you put on reverse gear the gear gives jerk and will not hold, ,,car has to be restarted and put in reverse gear again...all the lights indication on gear turns red...Dodge don't resolve this issue...they just say it is sensor...but it is transmission issue...

- Pickens, SC, USA

problem #127

Dec 052017

Dart

  • 51,000 miles
Burned oil and need to put oil in after 750 miles. New engine was put in, but it still have problems. The problem first started 12/4/17. I was driving my car and it completely stop without warning. I took it to the dealer and it was determined that it was an engine issue. After 6 months, the engine was replaced. It was burning oil

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #126

Jul 272018

Dart

  • miles
Takata recall

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #125

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 #124

Jun 012018

Dart

  • 0 miles
Had issue with 2013 Dodge Dart cranking. It took several attempts before the car would crank up.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

problem #123

Jul 022018

Dart

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle shook and shut down. The contact opened and closed the hood, and then restarted the vehicle. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact called landmark Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram at 770 968-4900 (located at 6850 mt zion blvd, morrow, ga 30260) and was advised to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Griffin, GA, USA

problem #122

Jul 082018

Dart

  • 82,500 miles
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

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