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).
It was September 23rd around 11 pm, I was driving on a highway, upon turning into the exit lane my car hit some form of pothole which made my touch screen and dashboard turn off and back on. I've had issues with my touch screen shutting off and back on in the past, once I've replaced the battery it worked fine until that day, then it started acting up again so before all of this I did set up a car appointment for it to get checked out 2 days earlier. So anyway, as I'm driving, I arrive to my destination. I sat in the car for a while on my phone and decided to turn on my air. When the air came out it smelled very smokey. So I turned it off and about 5 minutes later, a very light mist began to come out of the drivers side hood. So I decided to just head home instead because I didn't want to be stuck somewhere and I not have a ride home, my house wasn't that far from my location. …
I took my car in for a recall and as of May 13th I'm still without my vehicle and still having to make the payment plus insurance. I don't know when I will get my car but it has been in the shop enough times I filed for a breech of warranty but Chrysler only offered me 4000 take away the 2000 for attorney fees so 2000 is what I would have walked away with. I did not accept the offer and now I'm trying to figure out what to do. My car doesn't have a remedy for the issue but it's had transmission problems since day 1 had new engine new turbo new starter new gaskets new radiator and much more and nothing has been because of neglect. I truly feel I have a lemon on my hands and need help getting into a safe car. The dealership won't do anything about it told me to get a lawyer so I did but unless we agreed on an amount they wouldn't proceed. …
While driving the screen will randomly go completely black and then start flickering white - my dash is now doing the same, simultaneously. However, the screen lights (speed, miles, mpg, etc) stay dim to where I can't even read what is says. My speedometer and gauges will give out and then proceed to quickly flicker up and down. After about 30 seconds of this happening, the whole electronic system resets itself. This has happened 5 times within the last two days, within a maximum of 4 total hours driving time. When starting my car, it hesitates to start - it makes clicking noises prior to actually starting. The battery is fairly new as well. My center console randomly stops working, I have zero control over the radio / climate function. Even after disconnecting the battery, the problem resumes. The Uconnect doesn't work - no phone system, or Bluetooth music. …
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 [redacted] 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!!!!! …
My 2013 Dodge Dart has been going through issues for a year. My tires have been popping left and right brand new and used tires just popping while I'm driving with my kids in the car. The car now has a BCM problem as well as a small gas leak. I have went through multiple dealership that looked over the car and can't determine where the gas leak is coming from in which my check engine is still one which leave me to not be able to get the vehicle inspected or registered again. This car has caused me and my family so much money and issues. It hardly wants to drive, my key gets stuck in the ignition for some reason and I can't turn the car off. The Dodge and recall place told me they can not help me because my VIN is not recalled but I've been having the same issues as every other 2013 Dodge Dart.
The first time my breaks went out I was sitting in a drive thru and we heard a loud popping noise and the breaks became hard to push down. It took longer to stop driving home to be towed. The second time the same thing happened but we were driving this time and with this one the traction control also went out. This is the second time in 9 months that I have had my break system replaced. This is a major safety hazard as I could have killed someone seeing as though I had no breaks to stop. I drive long distances for work on major freeways that are very busy in the morning and at night and had this happened while I was on one of those freeways, someone would likely have died or at the very least been severely injured. This is uncalled for.
Eight months after purchasing the vehicle the BCM (body control module) failed causing door locks and trunk release not the function this happened while the vehicle wasstationary or in motion on city streets or the highway. After the BCM was replaced the interior lights stop functioning along with the dashboard lights flickering. This also happened while the vehicle wasstationary or in motion on city streets or the highway. The vehicle traction control and cruise control both malfunction while the vehicle wasstationary or in motion on city streets or the highway. Https://youtu.be/b7loromdbhs https://youtu.be/qclhywt17ik https://youtu.be/jyhg7dpqndq https://youtu.be/jdtthgryv6w
While driving on the highway and on city streets, the dash board lights went out and the needles for the speed and RPM went all the way to the bottom like the car was cut off. The car was still in motion. The dashboard said service electrical breaking system and the engine light eluminated. It did this more than one time. It will flicker the warning on the dashboard and then at one point the car cut off while on city streets. At another time when the message flickered on the dashboard the battery light came on. This has happened multiple times and I am concerned about my safety in this car as well as my children. The radio cut off and the eventually cut back on.
Service transmission message on dash after about 50 miles of driving normal. Won't shift into second gear until 4200 RPM drops to 1000 RPM then shifts into third gear early at 2400 RPM when turned vehicle off and try to turn back on it says autostick not available. Clear all codes works fine. It's been at the dealership 4 times with no diagnosis. They have done the transmission control module recall twice. Every time it has happened there has been about a month in between. Tends to happen after about driving 50 miles normally.
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
Traction Control complaints in other Dart years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2012 Dodge Dart?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2012 Dodge Dart, 3% of the model year's 1,081 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Dart traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control 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 traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury to stability & traction control 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.