logo
Dear Dodge Dart Owners: My Bad

Dear Dodge Dart Owners: My Bad

The Drive09-07-2025
The latest car news, reviews, and features.
Last week, I wrote what seemed like a mundane news story about the Dodge Dart. For those who missed it, the feds are opening an investigation into whether a previous transmission shifter bushing recall actually fixed the problem it was designed to address. Dry stuff, really, but it passed for news in a traditionally not-so-newsy week, and to liven things up a bit, I may have taken a shot or two at the now-discontinued FCA compact, and then signed off by dressing up our normal tip solicitation just a tad:
'Of the 299,000 supposedly still out there, there might be six or seven that aren't rotting away in somebody's alleyway. '
' Got a Dodge Dart that actually runs? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com. '
Welp, contrary to my flippant remarks, there really are more than just a few running Darts left in the wild, and as it turns out, quite a few of their owners read The Drive . And in defiance of all conventional Internet wisdom—not only did many of you actually read all the way to the end, but you took that bit of rhetorical flourish to heart.
Over the course of the holiday weekend, Dart owner after Dart owner deposited a fresh email in our inbox, and most (though not all) of them heaped praise on their cars. Seriously, where are you all hiding? And you're all just so darned nice —too nice to treat my playful sniping as an act of hostility. Here's a sampling of the notes we received:
Here's Noah to kick things off:
Hello!
I just finished reading Byron Hurd's piece on the Dodge Dart's faulty shifter cable. Funny enough, I don't remember ever receiving a previous recall notice and I haven't had any issues. I do perform all the maintenance myself and my Dart runs like a champ! I will keep this in mind and keep a lookout for any recalls!
Have a Happy Independence Day!!!
Niclas, a fellow orange-car connoisseur writes:
Boy do I have a Dodge Dart. One from 2016 and two from way back in the day(older than me). It a 2016 with about 130,000 miles on it. And thank goodness it's not a lame automatic. It's seen better days. But she gets me from point A to point B and sometimes to C. I actually drove 1000 miles to get it. It was the closest one. Had to be a Dodge. Had to be a manual and most of all it had to be ORANGE. Thanks
Lawrence writes:
I bought a 2013 Dodge Dart new, still driving it. It's been in the shop 3 times. 2 for recalls (TCM and shifter bushing) 3rd time for a wheel alignment(maintenance). The car currently has 109768 Kilometers. It has the 1.4 turbo motor with the DDCT transmission. I had to adjust the wastegate, which I believe there is a bulletin for it. The vehicle is amazing on fuel on the highway, almost 1000 k to a tank. I replaced the rear brake pads this spring as the backing plates was rusty due to our winters. So far it's been a great reliable vehicle. It also has the rare Laguna blue paint (see photo)
Robert seems to know the secret to keeping his son's Dart on the road:
I wanted to email in about my 2013 Dodge Dart. It still runs fine and I have 170,000 miles on it now. I've even passed it down to my son who's started driving this summer. Let me know if you have any questions. I did experience the shifter cable failure but fixed it on my own.
Roy's experience has been flawless:
Best car I've ever owned. In the last almost eight years I've owned it I have only had 1 engine code for a sensor and of course the recalls. Which never gave me any issues. I only got them done for the sake of it being a recall. Better than average gas mileage at 26 City and 30 plus highway mpg. I haven't even had to replace the brakes yet.
Michael's hasn't, but he's getting by:
I have a 2013 Dodge dart that is experiencing those problems but it hasn't gotten to the point where it has been rendered useless I actually like the car for the most part I got a 6-speed 2013 Dodge dart SE manual.
But Stephanie loves her 2016, and also included a pic. Blue Dart owners roll deep!
Hello,
I hope you're doing well. I've had my dart for 6 years now and I still love it. I have put it in the shop a couple of times but not until the last 6 months, the fuel pump went out and my motor mounts had to be replaced. Granted I hit a curb going pretty fast and knocked out the shifting linkage on my own and had that repaired in 2021.
When i put it in the shop though, they did say I must be one of the lucky ones since mines done good overall. 2016 Dodge Dart GT.
And we have another orange Dart owner here, Howie, who took a chance on one and had it pay off:
I have a 2014 dart gt, 2.4l with a 6 speed manual. Crazy fun to drive and its General Lee orange. My wife wants to put the 01 on the doors and a flag on the roof. Only put a clutch and starter in it. Third owner, bought it with 121000 and currently at 172000. I bought as a commuter car to keep miles off of my Silverado. The first Dodge I've ever owned and I'm 51.
It's all quiet on the Mopar front at Celia's:
I own a 2015 Dodge Dart & it's still running. Read the article about the recall.
Chris echoes that sentiment:
I have a Dodge dart. 2014. It has over 100,000 miles on it. I have had very few problems with it.
And then there's Mike, who couldn't be happier:
hello, I have owned a dart since 2014 bought new. I have 135000 miles on it and had 0 issues. it is the Gt and it's peppy, 30 mpg and still in great shape, only 1 small rust bubble on the door. I love driving it and wish they still made them. I commute to work 60 miles a day 1 way and still enjoy this car. just wanted to share.
A reader going only by auto_erotica might be the single most dedicated Dart owner on the planet:
purchased a 2013 Dodge Dart Limited with the 1.4L and six-speed manual in December 2013 – the first year of the reissue.
Still have it, still runs, is my daily driver, and I still love it.
Yeah, it's a Dodge – has Dodge problems all day long. The 1.4L is from the Fiat 500 and is seriously overclocked in the Dart.
I got a fight with the dealer (John Elway in Greeley, CO) when it was around 30K miles because the engine felt 'off'. It ran, but I just felt like it was having an issue.
Finally got the dealer to take it in and keep it for a few days….they kept it for about a month and replaced the engine.
They were kind enough to give me a nice loaner car in the meantime.
It's had several recalls for stupid stuff, including needing the clutch cylinder replaced; and I really hate those heckin' low-sidewall-profile tires.
Those damned tires – get a leak, flat in a minute. Always the sidewall, always requires a replacement. I will NEVER have a car with those *tty low-profile sides again.
Brake Calipers are tempermental.
Electronics flake out – Cruise Control will randomly crash, requires an engine-off restart
Boost gate error trips, especially in hot weather – I watched a Youtube video and opened the waste gate a bit – about half of what the video suggested.
Indeed it did help. But I need to go ahead and open it like the video suggested to see if that fixes it 100%.
Paid a garage to replace the timing belt because you have to disassemble the whole front-right-end of the car to get at it.
That's pure bullshit.
But I purchased a (used) 2010 Mazda CX-9 for my wife, and that maintenance nightmare is far worse. Learned my lesson there….
But it's fun to drive with the manual and the turbo. Their official MPG is a wet dream. I drove it like a dead grandma when it was new and it never got the 40+ highway they claim.
In 2013, it had the best set of safety and convenience features of any car in its price range.
Seat heaters, a heated steering wheel, giant-ass display for the backup camera, this was heckin' sweet!
I will drive it 'til it drops dead.
Then I will revive it and drive it some more.
MOPAR = My Old Pig Ain't Runnin' is still true.
By far, the most surprising note came from The Drive 's very own Adam Ismail. He no longer has a Dart (running or otherwise), but I asked him to share his story anyway. He writes:
So, I was still in college and I was coming out of a two year Focus lease…this was 2014 I wanna say. My family was a Chrysler family, unfortunately, and my dad wanted me in something new. My parents never wasted money except on bad new cars.
He was interested in the Dart because they were practically giving them away back then, which should have been a red flag. Ultimately I had a 2.4 auto—basically the GT in every way except no leather or sunroof. It honestly was a decent car for the money but it was so thirsty, and so heavy. And the suspension was easily the worst of any small car I've ever experienced. That guy who said he blew so many tires on his Dart, I fully believe him because the same thing happened to me. Astonishingly hard ride, and those heavy 18-inch stock wheels with zero sidewall didn't help things at all.
After three years I sold it and got a Fiesta ST which was a great decision. Of course I'm grateful to my parents because they paid for the Dart and I was able to put that toward the first car I bought with my own money, but yeah, not the choice I would've made.
Given that Dodge sold 300,000-some-odd Darts, it really shouldn't surprise me that so many of them are still on the road, nor that one of our very own staffers had a Dart story to share. Still, to say that we've been impressed by this response would be an understatement. Kudos to all of you, and thank you for your feedback! It was, top-to-bottom, absolutely delightful to read.
Got a controversial compact and a strong opinion about it? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com, or contact the author directly at byron@thedrive.com!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How to watch INDYCAR at Laguna Seca: Monterey schedule, date, time, TV channels, streaming
How to watch INDYCAR at Laguna Seca: Monterey schedule, date, time, TV channels, streaming

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

How to watch INDYCAR at Laguna Seca: Monterey schedule, date, time, TV channels, streaming

The INDYCAR Series moves west to Monterey for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a long-standing highlight on the schedule and one of the most scenic and demanding road courses. Keep reading for key details, including race dates, start times, TV channels, and streaming options. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 27th, 2025. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will take place on the streets of Monterey, California. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a challenging 2.238-mile (3.602 km) road course with 11 turns, including the famous "Corkscrew," with its six-story drop in a mere 450 feet that was popularized by "The Pass." The race will consist of 95 laps over 213 miles. The 2025 INDYCAR Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will be broadcast live on FOX. The 2025 INDYCAR Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will be available to be streamed live on the and the FOX Sports App. For those without cable, there are live-streaming services that carry FOX, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV. If you have an antenna in a good reception area, you can also watch INDYCAR on your local FOX station. Check out the Federal Communications Commission TV reception maps to see which stations are available in your area.

Gentex (GNTX) Surges 16% on Impressive Income
Gentex (GNTX) Surges 16% on Impressive Income

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Gentex (GNTX) Surges 16% on Impressive Income

We recently published . Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) is one of the best-performing stocks on Friday. Gentex Corp., an automotive technology company, surged by 16.19 percent on Friday to close at $27.42 apiece as investor sentiment was boosted by its impressive earnings performance in the second quarter of the year despite a cautious outlook for the remainder of 2025. In its earnings statement, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) said attributable net income grew by 11.6 percent to $96 million from $86 million in the same period last year, excluding the impact of its acquisition of VOXX International Corp. Meanwhile, net sales increased by 14.8 percent to $657.86 million from $572.92 million year-on-year. Looking ahead, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) said it expects global light vehicle production for the third quarter of the year to end relatively flat versus the same period last year, while light vehicle production in its primary markets is expected to dip by 1 percent year-on-year. For the fourth quarter, global light vehicle production is predicted to drop by 6 percent year-on-year across its primary markets, including China. Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash For the full year, production is targeted to decline by 3 percent year-on-year while production in North America alone is expected to fall by 4 percent. While we acknowledge the potential of GNTX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

2015 BMW 3-Series Wagon on Bring a Trailer Is Built to M3 Spec
2015 BMW 3-Series Wagon on Bring a Trailer Is Built to M3 Spec

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

2015 BMW 3-Series Wagon on Bring a Trailer Is Built to M3 Spec

BMW never built an M3 wagon for the North American market. Here's one anyway. Virtually OEM inside and out, it's the hot Munich longroof we all wished for. This car is CARB certified and fully approved by California's Bureau of Automotive Repair. BMW's decision to bring the wagon version of the current M5 to this side of the Atlantic probably doesn't make a lot of sense to the company's accountants, but it's great for the fans. Uber-fast sedans are great, but there's something cooler about a wagon variant. It's a shame Bimmer didn't do the same with the M3. But wait, Bavarian sports wagon fans! Here's a 2015 BMW 328i xDrive wagon, fully converted to F80-series M3 specification, and it's up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). It's got the twin-turbo inline-six, the wider track with fenders and bumper covers, and best of all, a six-speed manual transmission so you can row your own gears while you laminate a labradoodle to the back window. Conversions can be hit or miss sometimes, but this one looks like it was factory-built in Munich. The exterior and mechanical upgrades are all OEM, and the interior of the M3 has been largely swapped over as well. It's got CARB approval, certification by the sometimes fussy California Bureau of Automotive Repair, and a modest 63K miles on the odometer. The M3 donor car was a Competition package model, which means the S55 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six makes a hearty 444 horsepower. Formerly equipped with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive, it's now rear-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential, and fitted with M3 subframes and chassis bracing. The car rides on M3 Competition-spec 20-inch wheels, fitted with Michelin tires, and the suspension and brakes are also M3 grade. The only aftermarket addition appears to be a set of KW height-adjustable springs. A 328i wagon of this generation is a pretty likable car all by itself, and as BMW no longer sends the touring version of the 3-series to North America, they're holding their value well. This car gets you something unique, all the firepower of a proper M3, but with extra carrying capacity and cool factor. For the winning bidder on this auction, the fact that BMW never built an M3 wagon for the U.S. market isn't a drawback but a bonus. Bimmer fans are going to go nuts when you roll up in it at your local German car show. The auction ends on July 30. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store