Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I came home from work, (drove 18 miles) and parked, walked towards my building and I heard a noise, as if something turned on under the hood. Like a electrical motor spinning. And it was not the fan because that one had already turned off. I walk back to the car and pop the hood, white smoke starts coming out and in less than 2 minutes a huge flame comes straight out from the passenger side of the hood. Called the fire department. Fire was on for 4 minutes, neighbor mechanics came running with fire extinguishers and put out the fire before the firefighters arrived. Too many parts melted and damaged. So far estimate is at $4,000. I do not have the estimate on paper, since at the moment I did not have budget to fix my car. My car was perfectly fine, services got done regularly. Never had issues other than wear and tear. I've had that car for almost 10 years.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH there was a loud abnormal banging sound before the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle went dark and there was no electrical power. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who could not duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure occurred two more times and the vehicle was driven to the dealer, who was able to diagnose the failure on the third visit. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the onboard computer needed to be reset as well as the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,815. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, the radio engaged on its own and the vehicle lost power steering. Several warning lights such as the brake system light, the battery light, the airbag light, and the engine light were illuminated. The steering wheel became difficult to maneuver but the contact was still able to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with the battery and alternator needing to be replaced, and was repaired. The failure reoccurred today while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the vehicle as the OBD reader failed to work. The vehicle was also taken to an unknown dealer who was unable to diagnose the vehicle for the same reason. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while turning off the vehicle, the key was difficult to remove from the ignition. The gear shifter was in park(P); however, the ignition switch remained stuck in the ACC position. Several attempts were required before the key could be released. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred after the repair. The check engine warning light and the power train warning light were illuminated. The failure reoccurred over time. The manufacturer was contacted, but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the driver's side window failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated and, on another occasion, the vehicle failed to turn off as intended. The battery cables were disconnected, and the battery was removed from the vehicle. An unknown message about the electrical system was displayed. In addition, the RPM revved high while the vehicle was idling or being driven. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, oil stains were found on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. …
The gear selected is saying that the car is park but it will not shut off . Had to move the shifter back and forward serval times before it stayed in park had this problem awhile don't think it was ever recalled. Thanks for your support in this matter
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. An unknown message was displayed. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the road on one occasion. The vehicle was jumpstarted with assistance. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the alternator had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle later failed to start and was repossessed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,464.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated the vehicle was shifted into park and the turned off however, the key remained stuck in the ignition. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times causing the battery to be drained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch was not making good contact and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Software
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured July 25, 2015, to December 16, 2015 and equipped with a 2.0L engine and a manual transmission.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the Engine Control Module software, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dart years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (175), 2015 (118), 2014 (74), 2013 (57) and 2016 (48) model years. Electrical complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dart electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-113 (software, Feb 26, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Dart electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument cluster/panel (2 mentions), followed by the software (2).
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.