YearToAvoid

2012 Dodge Dart Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 194 Engine complaints for the 2012 Dodge Dart, 18% of its 1,081 total complaints. Owners reported stalling, smoke, and fires, with a median failure mileage of 36,201. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
194
18% of 1,081
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
36,201 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or dies while idling or driving at low speed, sometimes accompanied by smoke from the vents or hood.
  • Vehicle shakes violently after the engine stalls and the check engine light comes on, with technicians unable to locate the failure.
  • Engine compartment catches fire, in some cases within roughly a minute of the engine dying while the car was moving.
  • Vehicle accelerates independently or fails to accelerate when the pedal is depressed, leading to loss of engine power.
  • Low oil pressure warning lamp illuminates alongside stalling and smoke, with dealers unable to diagnose the issue.

When 2012 Dodge Dart engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 15, 2013, latest Jul 18, 2023.

2012 Dodge Dart engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter142013 Q12014 Q12015 Q12016 Q12017 Q22018 Q22019 Q22023 Q3
194 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2023 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (14).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Dodge Dart

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Dart model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2012194 (18%)
  2. 201360 (21%)
  3. 2014119 (32%)
  4. 2015162 (31%)
  5. 201673 (28%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints for the 2012 Dodge Dart?
NHTSA lists 194 Engine complaints for the 2012 Dart, which is 18% of the 1,081 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Dodge Dart engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this Engine complaint category on the 2012 Dodge Dart.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2012 Dart?
The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints on the 2012 Dodge Dart is 36,201 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
Did the engine problems cause any fires or crashes?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2012 Dodge Dart includes 7 fires, 6 crashes, and 2 injuries.
How does the 2012 Dart compare to other model years for engine complaints?
The 2012 Dart's engine complaints made up 18% of that year's total, compared to 32% for 2014 and 31% for 2015, according to NHTSA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.