2013 Dodge Dart Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Dodge Dart most often report transmission and shifter problems, with many complaints describing the car slipping into neutral, refusing to shift out of park, or the shifter cable coming loose — sometimes after earlier recall work was already done. Electrical faults (screen and cluster failures, no-start and battery/alternator symptoms) and wiper controls that stay on are the next most common themes, and engine reports center on oil consumption and stalling. Complaints are spread across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage cars to ones well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter cable detaches or jams, car won't go into or come

   • 101 complaints (35%)
   • median 86,150 mi at 7.8 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the shifter cable or its bushing coming loose or breaking, so the gear lever no longer matches what the transmission is doing. Owners report the car staying in park when shifted to drive or reverse, sticking in reverse, or rolling after being placed in park, and in some cases the key cannot be turned fully off. Several say the cable or bushing had already been replaced, in some cases repeatedly, and that dealers or the manufacturer had no parts available when the repair was requested. Reported from roughly 40,000 to over 130,000 miles, with several at 80,000–90,000 miles, and often noticed while parked or shifting at a stop.

   Recall 25V674000

   What to check: On a test drive, shift through every gear with the engine running and confirm the lever position matches the gear and that park holds the car; ask whether the shifter cable and bushing have been replaced and whether the open recall 25V674000 has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2013 Dodge DART and the shifter cable that was recalled in may of 2013 has failed again and I can not turn my key all the way to the off position therefore either have to leave my car running or turn it where it shuts off the engine but doesnt shut everything else off and doors can not be locked. The gear shift can be moved back and forth without it being started or even having to push in the brake pedal which is hazardous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11338784, filed 2020-07, 81,637 miles

   “The car automatically moves to neutral and the gears do not work. I took the car for a recall on cable bushing on the transmission and I can drive the car for a bit but will fall in neutral by itself have not been able for the dealer to repair the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342927, filed 2020-08, 63,500 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips into neutral or loses drive

   • 74 complaints (26%)
   • median 71,079 mi at 7.7 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the transmission dropping into neutral on its own — while stopped at a light or while driving — with a dash message telling them to shift back to drive or reverse. Some report only odd or even gears working afterward, sluggish or jerky take-off, or the vehicle refusing to respond to the accelerator. Complaints frequently mention that transmission-related recalls and control module repairs had already been performed, and that dealers could not reproduce the problem or found no fault codes. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often after the transmission is fully warmed up or when stopping and pulling away.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car long enough to reach normal temperature and include repeated stops and restarts in traffic; ask for any transmission control module or software work history and whether the dual-clutch fluid service has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and I noticed that the car loose power and gears indicators we're all in red. P,r,n,d we're in red. I have to stop in a safety place. First I tried starting and moving the gear shift around, then I have to turn off and on the car and back to normal again. I don't feel safe in my car alone or with my family on it . There's a lot of problem with this car I don't fell safe anymore.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324243, filed 2020-05, 2 miles

   “My vehicle has had two recalls done on it. Tcm repair and transmission cable bushing. I took it to get a diagnostic. My TCM needs to be replaced again & my transmission won't shift sometimes after my transmission bushing repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343591, filed 2020-08, 20,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: blank cluster, screen and accessory

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the instrument cluster going completely dark, the radio or centre screen going blank or white, and functions like the backup camera, Bluetooth, blower motor and mirror or fuel-door switches stopping intermittently. Owners also report no-start or stalling episodes with warning lights, and in some cases an alternator or battery replacement that did not resolve the problem. Some mention a burning electrical smell or doors locking and unlocking while driving. Spread from low mileage up to roughly 160,000 miles, with many reports in the 70,000–120,000 mile range.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car several times and check that the cluster, screen, climate and audio all come on and stay on; ask whether battery, alternator or body control module work has been done and whether any no-start episodes were diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When taking off from a dead stop it hesitates and jerks if you give it too much gas every time you turn the steering wheel or slow to a stop something popping in the front end if you take off too fast it'll backfire little pops the check engine lights always coming on saying that we have multiple misfires when we don't when the check engine lights on the automatic start doesn't work and when the check engine light comes on and traction control light is blinking”

   NHTSA complaint #11373101, filed 2020-11, 105,000 miles

   “Blue tooth connection stopped working back up camera stopped working screen would go white on start up fuel door release button stopped working mirror switch stopped working blower motor works intermittently now the screen is all black and I have no audio or climate controls”

   NHTSA complaint #11301349, filed 2020-01, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers run continuously and won't switch off

   • 19 complaints (7%)
   • median 80,319 mi at 7.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners report the wipers starting on their own — often right after using the turn signal — and continuing to run with the switch in the off position. Some also say the washer stopped spraying. Complaints describe replacing the multifunction switch or a body control module without fixing it, and in some cases disconnecting the wiper motor to stop it. Several owners say no recall or dealer remedy was offered and that diagnosis was quoted at their cost. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, and usually noticed after using the turn signal or wipers.

   What to check: With the engine running, operate the turn signal and the wash/wipe functions and confirm the wipers stop and park normally; ask whether the multifunction switch or wiper wiring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My windshield wipers and washers won't turn on anymore. And I've searched up this problem to try to fix it, but it seems that there are hundreds of people who had the same problem with this make and model of car. It can cause major accidents due to not being able to see during heavy rains because the I couldn't turn on the wipers to wipe the rain waters away. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387842, filed 2021-01, 30 miles

   “The window wipers won't stop even when I attempted to turn it off. It won't turn off. Then I replaced with a new wipers, it won't stop. Then raining, the window is hard to see during the rainy. When I turn the light signal on to turn right; the wipers turns on by itself. It's frustrating and safety concerns. It's getting worse.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330440, filed 2020-06, 132,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and stalling

   • 22 complaints (8%)
   • median 86,122 mi at 8.0 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the low oil pressure light coming on between changes and having to add oil frequently, with no visible leak in some cases. Complaints also describe the engine stalling at speed or hesitating and jerking under acceleration, and in one case overheating followed by engine failure. Some owners say the vehicle was serviced under a warranty extension for oil consumption. Reported mostly between about 55,000 and 130,000 miles, with some owners adding oil at intervals of roughly 1,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, ask whether an oil consumption test was performed and whether the 2.4L warranty extension applies, and note any hesitation or stalling during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11699141, filed 2025-11, 55,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11688998, filed 2025-09, 130,000 miles

Buying note. A 2013 Dart with documented transmission and shifter-cable repairs, a completed open recall, and a record of oil consumption checks is a safer starting point than one with an unclear service history. A thorough test drive covering gear changes at temperature, wiper operation and a cold start will show most of what owners report here.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.