NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 8 recalls, 494 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Dodge Dart.
27–30 mpg combined
7.8–8.7 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate what 2015 Dodge Dart owners report, with transmission and shifter behavior drawing the most attention by volume. The most common pattern involves the transmission failing to properly recognize or engage park, owners describe the vehicle indicating it is not in park when it actually is, difficulty or inability to shift into park, and the car remaining capable of rolling when parked. A related symptom that comes up repeatedly is the vehicle refusing to start, sometimes with a "wait to start" or "not in park" message appearing regardless of actual conditions. Engine complaints are the second-largest named category, though specific engine symptoms are less consistent across reports. Brake complaints rank third, with owners describing reduced stopping performance or pedal feel changes. The park engagement and no-start combination is the most consistent thread across 2015 Dart complaints.
494
Total Complaints
32
Crash-Related
7
Fire-Related
15
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Dodge Dart has 8 recalls, the most serious involving the transmission shifter system, where a detached shift cable can prevent the vehicle from entering Park and allow it to roll away, and a software gap that can cause unexpected engine power surges on manual transmission models.
Several recalls address transmission behavior: the transmission control module can fail and cause the transmission to drop into neutral without warning, cutting drive power while the vehicle is moving. The shifter cable and park function issues stem from the same underlying problem and have been filed across multiple campaigns. The engine control software concern also applies to certain manual transmission vehicles that received dealer service during a specific window, where a missing fault-detection layer leaves uncontrolled torque increases unchecked.
Two recalls cover the tire pressure monitoring system, which on certain vehicles may fail to illuminate the warning light when a tire is underinflated, leaving the driver unaware of a condition that can affect handling. One of these applies specifically to Dart Aero models built with a particular instrument cluster and sensor combination. Rounding out the list, certain vehicles were equipped with a Kidde fire extinguisher whose mechanism can fail to discharge properly if a fire occurs.
At a glance
What can fail
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The shifter cable can disconnect from the transmission, stopping the vehicle from shifting into park and disabling the park function.
What the fix does
Chrysler will complete a repair to restore the shifter cable connection and park function. Instructions will be sent when the repair is ready.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shifter cable bushing on the transmission may wear out or fail, causing the shift cable to disconnect from the transmission.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission-side shifter cable bushing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to spray, or require excessive force to use. In some models, the nozzle may separate from the valve assembly with enough force to cause injury and make the extinguisher unusable.
What the fix does
Chrysler will provide a replacement fire extinguisher at no cost. Contact Kidde or Chrysler to arrange the replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control module may lack fault detection software. If the engine surges unexpectedly, the software might not catch it or reduce power, potentially causing unintended acceleration.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control module with updated software to add the missing fault detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The powertrain control module monitoring engine torque may lack backup software protection, potentially affecting engine operation.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine control module software at no cost to restore the missing backup layer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control module may fail, causing the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission control module and bracket at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system may fail to alert you when your tires are underinflated, which could affect how your vehicle handles and increase crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a software update to fix the tire pressure monitoring system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may not turn on when tire pressure drops too low, preventing drivers from being alerted to underinflated tires.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram your tire pressure monitoring system from lowline to highline configuration at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
