Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Dart owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and RPM's decreased briefly before returning to normal functionality. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a failure with the HVAC system. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure; however, the contact was advised that the infotainment unit might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate and loss motive power with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle is not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the manufacturer nor dealer was notified of the failure. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V542000 (Power Train), 13V238000 (Power Train) as possible solutions to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 77,286.
The parking brake has failed on two occasions, once while stationary when it was at the dealership. It crashed into a car in their parking lot in 2016. The vehicle has been in and out of the dealership over the last four years. It was in the dealership in 2015-2016 thirteen times for oil leaks and the engine either dying or almost seizing while in motion. This resulted in my vehicle starting on fire in late 2016 early 2017. The repair for the fire damage was covered by my insurance company and it was subsequently fixed by a different dealership after that. More recently, it was in my driveway and rolled into my truck and damaged the front of the vehicle's bumper while stationary with the parking brake was engaged. The symptoms with the engine have also started to reappear while in motion in 3rd or 4th gear... It starts to act like it's going to completely die. …
I was on my way to work@ 0730 hrs, traveling on I 294 n/b, at a speed of approx 45/50 MPH when I heard a loud pop. As I attempted to reduce my speed, to move out of the flow of traffic, I noticed my brakes were no longer functioning. I pulled the hand break up, which did not respond, I pushed it down and pulled it up a second time, which barely slowed my vehicle, but did allow me to coast to a slow stop on the shoulder. At this time, the hood of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. I exited the vehicle and a man who had been traveling behind me, pulled over to say that he had seen flames coming from my tail pipe, before the engine compartment burst into flame. I immediately called 911. I waited in the rain for illinois state police and the fire dept to respond. State police report#il 0229900 was made upon the troopers arrival.
Well my car headlight and the paneling caught on fire in my car went to car hop to advise them took the car to one of there dealers advised that they don't do electrical at the same time the recall came in advised me that a recall was needed too k it to dealership and as of now 30 days behind on the part advised carhop that the repairs have been made before I brought the car that wasn't done correctly which made me have to pay for the recall work they swear they didn't bit the state and carfax say otherwise it wasn't done by Dodge in no state but by there mechanics at this time the car is dangerous to drive it's still at Dodge and carhop said they will resell it to another family even though I advised them the panel caught on fire and there is a short
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while the engine was on and the driver was outside of the vehicle, the vehicle independently shifted from park to reverse. As a result, the vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a tree. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,306.
Tl* 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.
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.
When we are driving the car, it will start to shudder when the check engine light comes on and within a minute the ABS system will turn on. When the ABS system turns on, you can actually feel the braking trying to stop the car. This has happened at all different speeds, from 20 to 30 MPH up to highway speeds at 70 MPH. You cannot shut of the ABS system with the safety switch when it turns itself on. We have pulled over, turned the engine off and restarted the car. This does not always seem to work. We have turned off the ABS system when we have started the car, but the computer in the engine will override this and has turned it back on. When that happens, it starts to try braking again while we are driving down the road. We have had the car back to the dealership several times trying to get this resolved, but they have not been successful in solving this problem. …
On 3 separate occasions, my 2013 Dodge Dart gt with a 2.4 tiger shark engine with multiair has shut down while the car was moving on the road. The reason for this the dealership told me was due to low oil, which we recently realized uses at least 1/2 quart per 1,000 miles. The dealer says this is within normal limits. They said that before 50,000 miles it is within normal limits to burn 1 quart for every 1000 miles and after 50,000 miles it is normal to burn 1 quart for every 750 miles. This was never divulged to me when I purchased the vehicle. It first did this starting at 35,000 miles. The vehicle now has 42,000 miles. There has never been any oil light or any other engine light that goes on before the vehicle dies. It has left me stranded in the middle of the road in some very dangerous situations. I no longer feel safe driving this car and who would want to buy it from me? …
Engine complaints in other Dart years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2012 Dodge Dart?
NHTSA has 168 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2012 Dodge Dart, 16% of the model year's 1,081 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Dart engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2012 Dodge Dart, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Dart engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 37% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 7 fires and 2 injuries and 2 deaths to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.