Nearly a decade after the Dodge Dart was discontinued, nearly 300,000 of the compact sedans have been recalled. This is the second recall triggered by a dangerous rollaway defect that the automaker thought it had fixed for good.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Stellantis (the parent company of Dodge) is recalling 298,439 Dodge Dart models from 2013 through 2016. These models have a faulty transmission shifter cable that can detach from the transmission. This defect can cause the car not to shift properly into parking mode, increasing the risk of it rolling away.
This recall only affects Darts with automatic transmission.
A Recall That Just Won’t Stay in Park
Back in 2019, almost a similar number of Darts were recalled because of a similar problem involving the transmission cable bushing, which is the small connector that connects the shift cable to the transmission lever.
The second recall entailing the same problem indicates that the repair did not solve the defect. According to Eric Stafford, managing editor at Car and Driver, there has been an increase in reports about failures following that prior repair. Investigations conducted by the NHTSA in 2024 found that the shift cable bushing was still failing even after the 2019 repair. This means that a permanent solution is yet to be found.
By June 2025, NHTSA had determined that there was a need to look into the defect once more, prompting Stellantis to recall all the affected cars once more.
Stellantis Admits the Fix Failed, Promises a New Solution
Stellantis said that no reports of crashes or injuries related to the defect have been submitted. The company acknowledged that earlier repairs did not solve the problem and are working to find a permanent fix.
Dealers will be notified around October 16, 2025, and owners of the affected models will receive notification letters by November 6, 2025. Instead of waiting for the letters, owners can enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Dodge’s recall website or through NHTSA’s recall lookup tool to find if their car is affected.
Before their cars are fixed, Stellantis has advised owners to use the parking brake when parking, especially on any inclined surface.
Discontinued Models Still Included in Recall
While the Dodge Dart hasn’t been produced since 2016, the recall still affects cars that are still on the road and even the new ones. Surprisingly, six new cars were bought in the past three months. These leftover models, also referred to as “zombie cars,” were likely unsold units sitting in inventory for years.
Therefore, whether you own a new or used 2013-2016 automatic Dodge Dart, you will need to take your car for inspection even if it had been repaired during the 2019 recall.
What Owners Should Do
Here is what to do if you own an automatic 2013-2016 Dodge Dart:
- Check your VIN on the NHTSA recall website or Dodge’s recall portal.
- Always set your parking brake until repairs are completed.
- Watch for official notification letters expected in November 2025.
- If your vehicle was fixed in 2019, it still needs to be inspected again under this new recall.
Conclusion
While the Dodge Dart may be long gone from production lines, about 300,000 of them are being recalled. The recall aims to fix a defect that had been detected and repaired six years ago. Stellantis acknowledged that the earlier repairs were ineffective and was therefore recalling them again.
Dart owners have been advised to be watchful and take extra precautions when parking their cars, especially on an inclined terrain. While no injuries or accidents related to the defect have been reported, NHTSA investigations indicate that the defect increases the risk of sudden roll away, which can be fatal.