U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Dodge DART problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,081 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

42,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 868 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 446 of 1,081 complaints (41.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	326	30.2%
Transmission and shifting	289	26.7%
Electrical and battery issues	93	8.6%
Engine operation	85	7.9%
Steering behavior	52	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	3	0.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train

446

Service Brakes

252

Electrical System

169

Engine

163

Unknown Or Other

103

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

Steering

Power Train: 446; Service Brakes: 252; Electrical System: 169; Engine: 163; Unknown Or Other: 103; Air Bags: 67; Vehicle Speed Control: 41; Steering: 36

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

262

25,000 to 49,999

242

50,000 to 74,999

182

75,000 to 99,999

112

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 262; 25,000 to 49,999: 242; 50,000 to 74,999: 182; 75,000 to 99,999: 112; 100,000 to 149,999: 60; 150,000 and above: 10

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (262). 213 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012

2013

2014

115

2015

185

2016

273

2017

116

2018

113

2019

203

2021

2022

2023

2024

2012: 2; 2013: 60; 2014: 115; 2015: 185; 2016: 273; 2017: 116; 2018: 113; 2019: 203; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 326 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 289 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 93 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10477243 · 2012-09-27 (September 27, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE FAILED CAUSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE ROD TO MALFUNCTION AND NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 479. UPDATED 10/26/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 11/08/12

Owner-reported narrative. 479 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477243 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10491591 · 2013-01-06 (January 6, 2013)

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE & COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. WHO EVER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BE CAREFUL. ON 10/31/12 ABOUT 11:30AM MY GRANDMOTHER & I WERE HEADING OUT TO LUNCH. MY GRANDMA WANTED TO RIDE IN THE DART THAT I HAD BOUGHT ON 10/26/12. I ONLY PUT ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE DART & IT IS A MANUAL 6 SPEED. I LET MY GRANDMA INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALREADY ENGAGED, BUT I DOUBLE CHECKED IT & RE-PULLED UP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, I THEN PULLED UP ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FULLY E…

Owner-reported narrative. 76 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491591 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496207 · 2013-02-02 (February 2, 2013)

THIS VEHICLE SHIFTS SO BAD AND THAT CARS I'VE DRIVEN THAT WERE 5 - 10 YEARS OLDER SHIFTED BETTER THAN THIS . IT DOWNSHIFTS WHILE BRAKING AND SOMETIME IT IS A VERY JERKY DOWNSHIFT .ALSO IT SLAMS/JOLTS INTO FIRST GEAR WHILE ROLLING AT ABOUT 3-5 MILES PER HOUR ONCE THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. IT ALSO IS THE WORST AT CHANGING GEARS DURING STOP AND GO DRIVING BECAUSE IT IS SO JERKY AND BOUNCY AFTER BRAKING THEN ACCELERATING AND I DON'T SEE WHY A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW SHOULD DO THIS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVING THEM TELL ME TO BRAKE IT IN FIRST…

Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10501345 · 2013-03-05 (March 5, 2013)

ON 02/18/2013 CAR WOULD START, BUT WOULD NOT GO IN TO GEAR, ERROR MESSAGE READ PUT IN TO REVERSE AND TRY AGAIN. WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL OR DRIVE AT ALL, IT WAS VERY COLD THAT MORNING (27) DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION, STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS (03/05/2013). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508429 · 2013-04-16 (April 16, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUTMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,731 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,731 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525689 · 2013-07-18 (July 18, 2013)

THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH GOING UP AND DOWN .IT HASN'T GOT ALL THE WAY UP THE THE "H" OR HOT MARK BUT IT GOES UP TO THE 3/4 MARK QUITE REGULARLY AND IT SMELLS LIKE HOT ELECTRICAL PARTS . IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN STOPPED AT LIKE SAY A "DRIVE THROUGH" LINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE BUT NOT MOVING. I'VE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAW PICTURES AND I EVEN MADE IT GET UP TO 3/4 ON THE TEMP GAUGE AND THEY SAY THAT AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ON THE "H" THEN IT IS FINE AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THERE ARE FLAPS TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496762 · 2013-02-07 (February 7, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN A PARKING LOT IDLING, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LOW WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496762 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10500014 · 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND DECIDED TO RESET THE COMPUTER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FA…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10494772 · 2013-01-25 (January 25, 2013)

MY ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS BASED ON ENGINEERING EXPERTISE NOT EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, SUGGESTS THAT, RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO DRIVER CONTROLLED BY-WIRE" INSTRUCTIONS TO BRAKE PREPARATORY TO A HARD RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE TOOK CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE, BRAKE, AND (DRIVE-BY-WIRE ?) CLUTCH PROPELLING ITSELF 20 METERS FURTHER DOWN-ROAD TO THE RIVER SHORELINE. PERHAPS READING THE BRAKE COMMAND AS AN ACCELERATION INSTRUCTION (OR ???) THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD AND DROVE ITSELF OFF THE ROAD, TUMBLING 2 METRES ONTO A BEACH, THEN FROM THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494772 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10499407 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)

AS I WAS DRIVING THE DODGE DART (2013) THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION EITHER BROKE, VIBRATED OUT, OR WAS NEVER SCREWED IN PROPERLY AT THE PLANT. THE CAR HAD 400 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS TO THE LEFT (INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THERE WAS GRINDING AND LOUD NOISES AS I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT THE CAR WAS MISSING A BOLT WHEN HE WENT TO HOOK THE CHAIN UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED PASS IT OFF AS, "WE ALLIGNED IT AND ITS READY FOR YO…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499407 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10897248 · 2016-08-19 (August 19, 2016)

AT 40,000 MILES AFTER 3 YRS 5 MONTHS THE CAR HAD A STRONG FUEL ODOR. I REALIZED THE GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. IT TURNED OUT THE PLASTIC HOUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP WAS BROKEN AT THE CONNECTOR AND THE GAS WAS LEAKING WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS UNDER PRESSURE. WHICH MEANS WHENEVER THE CAR IS RUNNING AND THE IGNITION IS ON, THE FUEL IS LEAKING. THE SYSTEM PRESSURE IS 58 PSI (+- 5 PSI) SO YOU CAN LOSE A LOTS OF FUEL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ON THE ATTACHED PICTURE THE 2 STRAIGHT LINE IS NOT A CRACK. IT IS THE FUEL COMING OUT WITH A H…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897248 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11165291 · 2019-01-04 (January 4, 2019)

VEHICLE "BUCKING" BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPM. PROBLEM MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING. SEEMS TO BE EITHER CLOGGED FUEL FILTERS, FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, OR IGNITION COILS WITH THE LAST TWO BEING THE PRIMARY. CONTINUOUS ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR. TOOK TO DODGE. SAID IT WAS FIXED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. THEY WOULD NO LONGER LOOK INTO ISSUE BECAUSE VEHICLE HIT 100,000 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165291 at NHTSA ↗