Dodge Dart Best and Worst Years (2012–2016)
Avoid the 2012 and 2015 Dodge Dart, which rank worst with complaint index scores of 100 and 75. The 2013 Dart is the best year with an index of 0 and only 282 complaints, followed by 2016 with an index of 25.
- Model years
- 5
- 2012–2016
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,516
- Recall campaigns
- 11
- Crashes reported
- 136
- Fires reported
- 32
- Top problem area
- Transmission & Powertrain
Dart Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Dodge Dart problems and recalls by year
Dart years to avoid: what went wrong
2012 Dodge Dart Index 100 · 1,081 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2012 Dart tops complaints with 1,081 filed and a complaint index of 100, the worst of any Dart year. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 42% share, with owners reporting shift cable and shifter problems; median mileage at failure across top areas ranged from about 36,201 to 48,000 miles. Brakes followed at 29% share, including reports of parking brake failure and vehicles rolling despite the brake being engaged. NHTSA recorded 6 recalls for this year, including a shifter cable bushing recall and a brake booster grommet recall. The year also logged 63 crashes, 14 fires, 36 injuries, and 2 deaths.
2012 transmission & powertrain problems →2012 brakes problems →2012 engine problems →
2015 Dodge Dart Index 75 · 525 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2015 Dart carries a complaint index of 75 with 525 complaints, ranking second worst. Transmission & Powertrain problems account for 34% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 62,300, while Engine issues follow at 31% and 45,000 median miles. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes and a lower control arm breaking while driving straight. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this year, including a 2025 shifter cable recall and the earlier 2019 shifter cable bushing recall. Crashes numbered 32, with 7 fires and 23 injuries reported for the year.
2015 transmission & powertrain problems →2015 engine problems →2015 electrical system problems →
Most common Dodge Dart problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Transmission & Powertrain1,004 (40%)
- Engine608 (24%)
- Brakes535 (21%)
- Electrical System491 (20%)
- Other369 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires127 (5%)
- Airbags125 (5%)
- Steering107 (4%)
- Fuel System78 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers73 (3%)
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the Dodge Dart should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2012 and 2015 Dodge Dart are the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100 and 75, the highest among the five model years covered.
- What is the best year for the Dodge Dart?
- The 2013 Dodge Dart is the best year, with a complaint index of 0 and only 282 complaints, the lowest of the 2012-2016 lineup.
- What is the most common problem with the Dodge Dart?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem across all Dart years, accounting for 1,004 complaints, or 40% of the total 2,516 complaints filed.
- Does the Dodge Dart have transmission recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 19V293000 covers 2013-2016 Darts with 6-speed automatics whose shifter cable bushing may fail, and it was superseded by recall 25V674000 in 2025 for the same shifter cable detachment issue.
- Is the 2014 Dodge Dart a safe choice?
- The 2014 Dart is rated Caution, with a complaint index of 50, 371 complaints, and 4 recalls, sitting between the worst years (2012, 2015) and the best years (2013, 2016).