Your vehicle report

2012 Dodge Dart

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
1,081
Received Jul 2012 to Apr 2024
Official recalls listed
6
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips64 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Manual clutch wears out or fails early52 complaints · 4.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly45 complaints · 4.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #19V293000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Dodge Dart vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the shift cable to detach from the transmission.
  • Recall #15V800000Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured February 27, 2012 to January 23, 2014 and equipped with either a 2.0L or 2.4L engine. In affected vehicles, engine oil from the vacuum pump may seep into the brake booster, damaging a component within the brake booster.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 63 crashes, 14 fires, 36 people injured, 2 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

6 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

1 more problem

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2012 Dodge Dart
273
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20122
201360
2014115
2015185
2016273
2017116
2018113
2019203
20200
20215
20222
20234
20243
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total1,081

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips645.9%–NHTSA recall #15V542000
Manual clutch wears out or fails early524.8%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly454.2%–
Jeep Cherokee stalls while driving373.4%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking343.1%–
Transmission will not engage reverse gear302.8%–NHTSA recall #19V293000
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes292.7%–NHTSA recall #13V555000
Transmission fails or loses power while driving282.6%–
Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal272.5%–NHTSA recall #15V800000
Airbag warning light stays on242.2%–
Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail211.9%–
Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates211.9%–
Gear shifter fails to register Park211.9%–NHTSA recall #19V293000
Tires blow out or tread separates201.8%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring181.7%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines181.7%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly161.5%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving161.5%–
Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own141.3%–
Engine won't start or cranks intermittently141.3%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #19V293000April 11, 2019298,439 vehicles affected

    power train: automatic transmission; power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Dodge Dart vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the shift cable to detach from the transmission.

    If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the vehicle may not perform the shifts performed by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    This recall will be replaced by NHTSA recall number 25V674. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission side shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 5, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V34.

  • NHTSA recall #15V800000November 25, 2015105,425 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured February 27, 2012 to January 23, 2014 and equipped with either a 2.0L or 2.4L engine. In affected vehicles, engine oil from the vacuum pump may seep into the brake booster, damaging a component within the brake booster.

    Internal damage to brake booster could result in a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster grommet for the presence of oil. If no oil is found, the vacuum tube assembly will be replaced. If oil is found, the vacuum pump, vacuum tube assembly, brake booster and master cylinder will be replaced. The recall began on May 9, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R63.

  • NHTSA recall #15V542000August 25, 201523,564 vehicles affected

    power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured February 24, 2012, to June 16, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience failure of the transmission control module (TCM), causing the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.

    If the transmission shifts into neutral, it can cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TCM and bracket, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on October 14, 2015. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R42.

  • NHTSA recall #13V555000November 6, 2013374 vehicles affected

    air bags: side/window

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured May 10, 2013, through August 24, 2013 and equipped with the Mopar 13 trim package. In the affected vehicles, the front seat mounted side airbags (SAB) may not have been properly installed into the seat.

    In the event of a crash necessitating SAB deployment, the SABs may fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SAB installation and re-install them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N61.

  • NHTSA recall #13V238000June 4, 201312,872 vehicles affected

    power train

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013 and equipped with a 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine and dual dry clutch transmission. These vehicles may experience an engine stall when the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

    If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N32.

  • NHTSA recall #13V124000April 3, 201346 vehicles affected

    parking brake

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured on November 27, 2012. Some vehicles may have been built with incorrect rear brake calipers, which could result in an inoperable parking brake.

    If the parking brake is inoperable, the vehicle could roll when parked increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on April 29, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N21.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Dodge Dart.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN