repaired · 2020 Q4
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the vehicle may not perform the shifts performed by the driver.
2012 Dodge DartProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,081 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge Dart, most often about the power train. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-293 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 10, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: qJake, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge Dart has problems
1,081 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
454Power train14 crash/fire/injury
252Service brakes27 crash/fire/injury
175Electrical system10 crash/fire/injury
163Engine11 crash/fire/injury
68Air bags
41Vehicle speed control
37Steering
31Visibility/wiper
29Electronic stability control (ESC)
17716 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 454 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 252 | 27 |
| Electrical system | 175 | 10 |
| Engine | 163 | 11 |
| Air bags | 68 | 26 |
| Vehicle speed control | 41 | 2 |
| Steering | 37 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 31 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 29 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 177 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2012 Dodge Dart recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Power assist: vacuum
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk. If the transmission shifts into neutral, it can cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
repaired · 2015 Q1
Air bags: side/window
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating SAB deployment, the SABs may fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Show 2 more recalls
no report yet
Power train
Risk. If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Parking brake
Risk. If the parking brake is inoperable, the vehicle could roll when parked increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
48kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 367 power train complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.
112under 30k miles323under 100k miles44100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
14 owners mentioned a cost$900median
Middle half: $650 – $6,250
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Dart year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Dart median. How we score
'66'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'12'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What Dart owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she smelled a gasoline odor on the interior of the vehicle, after which several unknown warning lights on the instrument panel started flickering. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the…
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shifted into neutral without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift into drive or reverse with a message stating that the gear was not available. The service transmission…
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and RPM's decreased briefly before returning to normal functionality. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a failure with the HVAC system. The…
Own a 2012 Dart?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.