2012 Dodge Dart: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Dodge Dart: 6 recalls, 1081 owner complaints.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #13V124000 · 2013 · 46 vehicles
What's wrong: Some vehicles May have been built with incorrect rear brake calipers, which could result in an inoperable parking brake.
Why it matters: If the parking brake is inoperable, the vehicle could roll when parked increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on April 29, 2013.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #13V238000 · 2013 · 12,872 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the engine stalls while driving it May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2013.
Airbags Vehicle recall #13V555000 · 2013 · 374 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the front seat mounted side airbags (sab) May not have been properly installed into the seat.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating sab deployment, the sabs May fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #15V542000 · 2015 · 23,564 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience failure of the transmission control module (tcm), causing the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
Why it matters: If the transmission shifts into neutral, it can cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #15V800000 · 2015 · 105,425 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V293000 · 2019 · 298,439 vehicles
What's wrong: The shifter cable bushing May fail allowing the shift cable to detach from the transmission.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 14 mention a fire, 36 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (454): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (229), warning light on (89), stalls / loses power (65).
- Brakes (252): the most common themes are noise or vibration (37), brake failure / soft pedal (31).
- Electrical (175): the most common themes are electrical failure (69), warning light on (44).
- Engine (163): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (51), warning light on (38).
The 2012 Dodge Dart has 1081 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 5 Dart model years for complaints (2.1× the average Dart year). Complaints peaked in 2016 (273 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 42,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2013 (284 complaints, 1 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Dodge Dart.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Dodge Dart have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Dodge Dart. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Dodge Dart problems?
Owners have filed 1081 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (454), brakes (252), electrical (175).
Where can I get a 2012 Dodge Dart repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.