FaultScore

2016 Dodge Dart transmission problems

81 of the 363 complaints about the 2016 Dodge Dart are about the transmission — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 55,000 miles.

C

81

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 75 92.6%
Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 4 4.9%
Floor Shift 1 1.2%
Clutches/Bands 1 1.2%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Dodge Dart year

2012 455 45.8%
2013 149 15.0%
2014 133 13.4%
2015 175 17.6%
2016 81 8.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

Shifter went out at HEB had it towed to Dodge and nobody is able to get the part because it doesn’t exist. How did a car get built in 2016 and has a bad shifter and the recall came out 10/2025 and were in 2026 still no remedy. I’m left with no vehicle, no explanation, I have 2 jobs and nobody is giving explanations. I’m left without a car because of a recall that y’all don’t have a part for. My number is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Clarksville, AR

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while reversing, the transmission became stuck in reverse(R). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact disconnected the battery to correct the failure. Upon research, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V293000 (Power Train) and 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact had not received the recall notifications. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #11757686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,000 miles Sulphur, LA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the transmission slipped and failed to shift into park. The contact engaged the parking brake to park the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from rolling away. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

NHTSA complaint #11757387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 161,282 miles Broken Arrow, OK

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park(P) as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The gear shifter was manually shifted into reverse. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The gear shifter was later shifted into park(P). The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 161,282.

NHTSA complaint #11756902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradley, IL

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact had not experience a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11756809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boise, ID

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11755456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middle River, MD

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

Transmission fails to stay in park, and prevents vehicle from starting as well as leaving it an unsafe state. Recall has been made but it has been 10 months with no fix.

NHTSA complaint #11755021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Mt Morris, IL

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that upon attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to move and was stuck in neutral(N). No warning light was illuminated. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not yet made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11752026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Summerfield, FL

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the transmission shift cable fractured. No warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic shop for a diagnosis; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11749303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chalmette, LA

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

I am requesting assistance regarding an unresolved safety recall affecting my 2016 Dodge Dart GT. In October 2025, a recall was issued for the transmission shift cable. My vehicle is included in the affected population, and I had been experiencing issues with this component before the recall was announced. Within weeks of the recall, I brought my vehicle to an authorized Dodge dealership and was informed that no repair could be performed because no remedy had been developed and replacement parts were unavailable. I was advised to wait until a remedy became available. It is now June 2026, and there is still no repair available. As a result, my vehicle has been inoperable and unsafe to drive for several months. During this time, I have continued making monthly payments of $332 on a vehicle that I cannot use. I recently contacted the dealership again seeking assistance but was told there was nothing they could do. A representative suggested I purchase an aftermarket replacement part at my own expense, estimated at over $800, despite the fact that it would still be susceptible to the same defect covered by the recall. I do not believe consumers should be expected to pay for a temporary repair related to a manufacturer safety defect. Additionally, I am currently eight months pregnant and rely on dependable transportation for medical appointments and daily necessities. The prolonged inability to use my vehicle has created a significant hardship. I am also concerned that the longer the vehicle remains unused, the greater the risk of additional mechanical issues developing, resulting in further expenses. I respectfully request that Dodge provide assistance while awaiting a permanent recall remedy. This could include a loaner vehicle, reimbursement for alternative transportation, a temporary repair at no cost to me, or another reasonable accommodation. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

NHTSA complaint #11744869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, MO

POWER TRAIN

after starting my car and putting it in reverse the gear stopped shifting. after lifting up the cover for the knob i found that the shifter cable snapped. i called the dealership and was told about the recall. they told me to take it in and they would be able to fix it. after manually shifting my car back into drive i was able to make my way to the dealership. but not before my transmission slipped again and i had to manually pull the lever. i had to drive on a busy road not knowing if my car was going to stop and id get into a wreck. but then the dealership told me that the remedy was not finalized for the recall. even though the interim recall was given in november. this is a safety hazard and the nhtsa must hold dodge accountable for this recall.

NHTSA complaint #11737494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,828 miles Hope Mills, NC

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving, the shifter cable detached while parking at the bank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been inspected prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The local dealer was contacted, who informed the part was backordered for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Powertrain). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed the remedy was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 122,828.

NHTSA complaint #11737383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,089 miles Lexington, SC

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle was placed in park, and the vehicle began to roll. The driver entered the vehicle and pulled the emergency brake. A good Samaritan pushed her vehicle out of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shift cable part was backordered. The vehicle was not repaired. An independent mechanic was contacted who determined the shift cable needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed the parts were backordered. The failure mileage was approximately 70,089.

NHTSA complaint #11735983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, GA

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle experienced a failure involving the automatic transmission gear shift cable (recall AOC 2013–2016). The gear selector indicated the vehicle was in “Park,” but the transmission was not fully engaged in Park due to the defective shift cable/bushing. This created a significant safety risk, as the vehicle was capable of rolling unexpectedly after being placed in Park. This condition puts the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and surrounding property at risk of injury or damage, especially when parked on an incline or in populated areas. There were no clear or consistent warning indicators prior to the issue. The vehicle appeared to be safely secured, which increases the possibility of an accident or death because the driver may exit the vehicle believing it will remain stationary. This issue is consistent with a known recall involving the shift cable assembly. The defect appears to be intermittent and not always easily reproducible, but it directly impacts the vehicle’s ability to remain securely in Park. At this time, the vehicle has not received a complete or reliable remedy, and the condition raises ongoing safety concerns. The component can be made available for inspection upon request. Because this defect affects a critical safety function and can lead to unintended vehicle movement, it presents a serious hazard. I am submitting this complaint to document the issue and request further investigation and resolution.

NHTSA complaint #11736059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Euless, TX

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while attempting to shift to park(P), the gear shifter was stuck and failed to move to the intended gear. The contact engaged the parking brake. The failure recurred while attempting to shift to drive(D) or reverse(R), rendering the vehicle undrivable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, and the gear shifter would respond as intended after several attempts. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired because the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11733505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Paragould, AR

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11729939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,938 miles Stockton, CA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 123,938.

NHTSA complaint #11726822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Decatur, GA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while scheduling an oil change appointment on the dealer website, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a stop, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond. Additionally, the contact stated that upon shifting to park(P), the vehicle tugged and hesitated while responding. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #11723799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Apex, NC

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone to test the battery, alternator, and transmission fluid. A mechanic diagnosed that the thermostat was sticking. The vehicle was then taken to another mechanic, who replaced an AC cord due to liquid leaking from underneath the vehicle. This mechanic suggested replacing the thermostat if the check engine warning light remained illuminated. While at a stop sign, the vehicle jerked before accelerating, and while driving approximately 35-45 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the mother's residence, where the vehicle remained for 3 days before being restarted. The vehicle remained parked for approximately a week before the contact drove back to the residence, and the check engine warning light and the battery light were illuminated. The vehicle remained parked while the wheel bearing, headlights, and oil change were repaired. A certified mechanic replaced the thermostat, and another inspected the vehicle but could not identify any other failures. After the repair was completed, the contact noticed that the vehicle continued to jerk while driving at various speeds, and the sensation was more prominent whenever the AC unit was activated. While driving approximately 35 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle decelerated, the battery light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and coast downhill into their grandmother's driveway nearby. After waiting a minute, the contact started the vehicle and was able to drive to the residence, approximately 5 minutes away, at 20 MPH to avoid additional failure. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where no battery or alternator failure was found. The mechanic suggested it might b

NHTSA complaint #11723515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clara, UT

POWER TRAIN

The transmission shift cable does not work on the vehicle and will not shift out of gear, Unable to use vehicle due to the break in the cable.

NHTSA complaint #11718836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mantua, NJ

POWER TRAIN

Transmission shift cable failure occurred on our 2016 Doge Dart. The vehicle was stuck in Drive and we were unable to shift the transmission to Park or Neutral, or to completely turn off or start the vehicle. I had to disconnect a battery to shut off the vehicle. This is part of an unrepaired Manufacturer recall A0C. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for repair; however, the dealer is refusing to repair the issue or replace any parts. The tow truck driver managed to re-attach the transmission cable to force the car into neutral during towing, and the dealer is stating that everything is fine and they will let us know when a remedy will be available. This is unacceptable. There needs to be a difference between a "vehicle may experience a transmission shift cable failure" vs. the vehicle that has already experienced the failure. On top of it the dealer is charging me a fee because they evaluated the vehicle. I contacted Stelantis customer service about the recall and they are basically telling me there is nothing they can do and just deal with it. Stelantis Case# 95608092. This vehicle is unsafe to operate and the manufacturer or the dealer are unwilling to even attempt a repair.

NHTSA complaint #11717729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,079 miles Indialantic, FL

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the transmission shifter failed to shift out of park. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission shifter cable failure. The contact was informed that the transmission shifter cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. The contact inquired about reimbursement for the out-of-pocket repair. The contact was informed that the reimbursement request was denied because the repair was not performed by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 54,079.

NHTSA complaint #11712209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Carmichael, CA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11708326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (POWER TRAIN). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), after the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to move the gear shifter to park(P); however, the shifter cable failed to connect to the transmission. The contact was able to move the shift lever; however, the transmission failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in reverse(R). In addition, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The contact activated the parking brake and left the key inside the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle remained at the residence unrepaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #11702588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, CA

POWER TRAIN

Went to drive home from work. Started car and shifted from park to drive but car stayed in park. Shifted back to park and back to drive and the transmission did shift to drive. Didn’t think much of it until I got home. I attempted to put vehicle in park and the shifter moved up but the car stayed in drive. Big orange D. I was able to turn off while the gear shifter was in the park position but the transmission was still in drive. I googled it and found out shifter bearing failed but I was able to manually shift the transmission into park. This was a recall fix but it failed again.

NHTSA complaint #11682528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenner, LA

POWER TRAIN

I am the second owner to own this car had it for 4 months only 27,000 miles i called my dealer to see about the gear shifting cable recall that happened but they said it was fixed in 2019, my car was driving fine now it is no longer shifting out of park i think the recall was not done correctly

NHTSA complaint #11678036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corpus Christi, TX

POWER TRAIN

My 2016 Dodge Dart had the shift cable bushing replaced under Recall V34 (NHTSA 19V-293) in December 2024. This week (July 2025), the opposite end of the same shift cable assembly failed, leaving the vehicle stuck in Reverse, unable to start or shift. I was stranded with my three children and had to manually override the transmission to transport the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership confirmed the failure was not the recalled bushing, but instead the other end of the same shift cable system, and refused to cover the repair under the recall. This is a clear safety-related issue involving the same defective shift cable design — one that causes loss of control over transmission gear selection, puts drivers at risk of rollaway, and disables vehicle starting. Dodge/FCA refused to cover the repair, claiming the recall only included one specific bushing, but this is a systemic failure of the same critical control system and should be addressed under an expanded or amended recall. This issue is the exact same symptoms of the original reason for the first recall.

NHTSA complaint #11676278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Springs, FL

POWER TRAIN

Today, 7-12-25, I tried to place my 2016 Dodge Dart in park. The car would not go into park, and I could not get the key out after trying to turn it off. The Shifter would not go into Drive, and was stuck in Reverse. I had the car repaired for a Recall on the Shifter Cable Bushing at my Local Dodge Dealer a few years back, and now it's doing the same thing it was prior to the Recall. Car is now stuck in a parking lot.

NHTSA complaint #11673025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Harvey, LA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, her son heard an abnormal popping coming from the engine after the vehicle was started. In addition, while attempting to move the gear shifter, the gear shifter failed to function as intended. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the shifter cable had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V293000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA complaint #11669669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Desert Hot Springs, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that upon arriving to his destination and attempting to shift into reverse, the shift lever failed to move to the desired position. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11649020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2016 Dodge Dart problems

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