Dodge Dart
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Dodge Dart, model year by model year — ranked from 328 federal NHTSA complaints across 2015–2016.
Two linked themes run through the Dodge Dart's complaint record: engines that quit and cars that won't stay put. The 2015 — the heavier year at 317 occurrences — leads with engine stalling during operation at 68 reports. Right behind it comes a cluster about control of the driveline: clutch system malfunction (47 reports, safety-severity), transmission shift cable failure (45), and unpredictable vehicle movement while in park (45), plus 43 reports of keys that can't be removed from the ignition. The 2016 (134 occurrences) repeats the pattern in miniature: transmission shift cable failure again tops the list — 30 reports, this time classified safety-severity — with suspension component failure (21), random engine stalls (17), and assorted electrical malfunctions (13) behind it.
The shift cable's appearance at or near the top of both years, escalating to safety severity in 2016, is the clearest signal in this data. A failed cable can mean the transmission isn't in the gear the lever says it's in — which connects directly to those "unpredictable movement in park" reports. There's recall coverage to check: campaigns 15V542, 16V113, 19V293, and 25V674 attach to the 2015, and 16V113, 19V293, and 25V674 to the 2016. Note that a 2025-numbered campaign against these cars means recall activity is recent — a Dart bought years ago could have an open recall its current owner never heard about. Run the VIN before anything else.
On the test drive, shift deliberately through every gear position and confirm the car's behavior matches the lever, set it in park on a slope with your foot ready, and pay attention to clutch engagement on cars equipped with one. Let it idle long enough to catch a stall if one is coming, and make sure the key comes out at the end.
Keep the totals in perspective: complaint counts are owner filings, not measured failure rates, and the newer year has had less time to accumulate them. Many of these cars had the cable and recall work done long ago — service records proving that, plus a pre-purchase inspection, matter more than which year you pick.
Dodge Dart problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015worst | 231 | 10 | 2/7 | Engine stalling during operation Engine · 68 complaints |
| 2016worst | 97 | 17 | 2/5 | Transmission Shift Cable Failure Transmission · 30 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2015–2016. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.