Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, an abnormal sound was heard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the spark plugs, ignition coils, catalytic converter, and oxygen sensors were replaced. The failure persisted and had progressively worsened. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with DTC: P0304 (Misfire in Cylinder #4). The contact was informed that the catalytic converter was turning red from overheating. …
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 50 MPH on the way to the residence, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the powertrain control module. The contact stated that the key had seized in the ignition, and the vehicle was left overnight with the mechanic. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The towing company determined that the shifter cable had detached. The contact later became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train). The contact had no other means of transportation and was unaware of the recall when the vehicle was purchased. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by the local dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
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. …
less than 2 years after purchasing this vehicle brand new my car started consuming oil and actually caused my car to die in the middle of the road. Chrysler ended up completely replacing my engine due to scoring found in the pistons. In the last year I have done another oil consumption and feel just under the threshold of what Chrysler deems "bad enough". They did an update and it has not been a problem since. In the past few months I have been having issues with my car in park not releasing my key. My car will be in park and I can turn it back 1 notch and it gets stuck in the ACC position. Turns out my shifter cable was damaged and I have replaced that with a $500+ repair. Well unfortunately it didn't completely solve my problem and I will still occasionally have the issue and now they are stating I need to completely replace my shifter and knob assembly. …
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The check engine and the oil warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine was consuming oil and was leaking engine oil. The contact was topping off the oil every 1,000 miles. The vehicle was serviced under Customer Satisfaction Notification: W20, but the failure persisted. The engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was adding engine oil every 1,000 miles. The check engine and the oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. …
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, and the contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The contact pulled over and was unable to activate the parking brake. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V124000 (Parking Brake); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dart years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (168), 2015 (145), 2014 (106), 2016 (66) and 2013 (52) model years. Engine complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dart engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Dodge Dart model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Dart engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles; 59% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (2 mentions), followed by the cooling system › radiator assembly (1).
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.