2012 Dodge Dart Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Dart years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,081 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Dart. That is the most of any Dart model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is power train (454 complaints, 42%), typically at around 48,000 miles. Complaints mention 63 crashes, 14 fires, 36 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 1,081owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 63complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Dodge Dart problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 454 | 42% | 48,000 | “service transmission” (10%) | $7,150 |
| Service Brakes problems | 252 | 23% | 36,000 | “service brakes hydraulic” (33%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 175 | 16% | 38,101 | “service transmission” (7%) | — |
| Engine problems | 163 | 15% | 38,500 | “service transmission” (6%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 103 | 10% | 56,300 | — | — |
| Air Bags problems | 68 | 6% | 50,265 | “air bag” (46%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 41 | 4% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 37 | 3% | 23,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 31 | 3% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 29 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 2% | 34,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 25 | 2% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 23 | 2% | 10,200 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 2% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 2% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 14 | 1% | 13,250 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 1% | 28,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 1% | 27,500 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 8 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 0% | 1,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 0% | 54,654 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 0% | 19,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 0% | 9,500 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 0% | 68,500 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 5,600 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 11,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Dodge Dart recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the transmission shifts into neutral, it can cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating SAB deployment, the SABs may fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Power train
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Parking brake
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the parking brake is inoperable, the vehicle could roll when parked increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that the passengerâs side air bag warning light was illuminated while driving. The contact stated that after the first failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired…
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 the front windshield trim was missing and that the adhesive around the front windshield was cracking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 97,945.
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…
Other Dodge Dart years
See all Dodge Dart problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Dart?
Owners most often report power train, service brakes, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 454 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Dodge Dart?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Dodge Dart a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Dart model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.