Dodge Dart: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Dodge Dart problems by model year, from 2,328 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (61%, 302 drivetrain complaints), 2014 (59%, 214 drivetrain complaints) and 2016 (59%, 144 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 4 Dodge Dart years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Dodge Dart year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2013 (58%).
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (640 of 1,300 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Dodge Dart year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Dart | high | 58% | 640 | 1,173 | 4/4 | 1 |
| 2014 Dart | high | 59% | 214 | 371 | 2/4 | 4 |
| 2015 Dart | very high | 61% | 302 | 527 | 1/4 | 6 |
| 2016 Dart | high | 59% | 144 | 257 | 3/4 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Dodge Dart years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Dodge Dart transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Dodge Dart involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2015 | 15V542000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014–2015 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V293000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014–2016 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V674000 | power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift | 2013–2016 |
5 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2014 | 14V800000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2015 |
| Nov 2015 | 15V800000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2014 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V113000 | electrical system: software | 2015–2016 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V813000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 2016 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2015–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Dodge Dart
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Dodge Dart
What are the worst years for the Dodge Dart?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Dodge Dart years are the 2015 (61% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2014 (59% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2016 (59% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Dodge Dart?
No Dodge Dart year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2013 (58%).
Does the Dodge Dart have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 1,300 of 2,212 relevant NHTSA complaints (59%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Is the Dodge Dart reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 4 Dodge Dart years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 59% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Dodge Dart?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Dodge Dart years we track, out of 8 in total: 15V542000 (Aug 2015, 2014–2015), 19V293000 (Apr 2019, 2014–2016), 25V674000 (Oct 2025, 2013–2016). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.