general problems of the 2013 Dodge Dart - part 1

My car was stuck in drive. It would not shift into park. My father had to use the emergency switch under the hood to put it in park. A local dealership was contacted and parts have been ordered to fix the problem. The car has not been inspected. There were no warnings. I did not receive a recall notice in the mail.

When I got in my car to leave work, the shifter cable had broken. It would not shift to reverse, neutral, or drive. I was left stranded in the middle of the night with no one to pick me up. Also, if it had broken while I was driving I wouldn’t have been able to put it in park and it would have potentially rolled into another car or person. At this time it has been 6 months since the recall and Dodge has no remedy for it. The dealership looked at it and did confirm that the shifter cable had broken.

The transmission shift cable detached from the transmission, causing the gear shifter to move freely without actually changing gears. When this happened, the vehicle could not be shifted into park or drive and became unsafe to operate. This created a serious safety risk because the car could roll or move unexpectedly even when the shifter was in park. The vehicle is affected by recall a0c / NHTSA 25v-674 for this exact issue. The failure has not yet been repaired because local dealers have been unresponsive. The problem can be reproduced by simply moving the shifter, as the cable will disconnect again. No warning lights appeared before the failure. The issue was visually confirmed by observing the detached cable under the hood.

The transmission and powertrain were inspected due to concerns about the car possibly jolting in a different direction and causing an accident. The issue has been confirmed by the dealer, and the vehicle has been inspected by both the dealer and a mechanic. The car does indeed jolt unexpectedly.

Shifter cable was replaced for recall in February of 2025 and it’s messed up again. .

I was at a intersection when the incident occurred. I was unable to shift it into gear. I was able to roll it into the gas station at the intersection. Bushing on tension rod disintegrated. Causing the transmission to be stuck in neutral.

Shift gear assembly failure.

This complaint is in regard to the most recent recall on Dodge Darts, the transmission shifter cable detachment. I was in the process of parking my car on an incline. All was normal. I had been out running errands, driving, and shifting for a few hours. The gear shift felt disconnected from anything; there was no effort required to move it back and forth in the shift. The car was not recognizing any movement I was making with the gear shift, and would not lock into place for any gear. I had to hold my foot on the brake even while "shifted" into park; otherwise, I would drift backwards into the car behind me, and potentially into a ditch/creek. I had to call for help to stabilize my car, with bricks behind the tires and a 25-pound weight left on the brake so I could exit the vehicle. We had to lift and open the gear shift to the compartment underneath and manually shift the car into park. During this, we unfortunately broke something under the gear shift. This happened on a Sunday evening (July 20), so no repair person was available to help me. Chrysler refused to offer any assistance or information about the last recall of this issue, and advised me to call the dealership that did the repair (they would not tell me which one I went to, just that it was marked complete in 2019). I know I went to a shorkey location, but not which. I called three jim shorkey Dodge locations in pittsburgh, and they all refused responsibility. I was told to call Chrysler again. I did not, because why would I? a local mechanic was able to acquire the part from Dodge to "fix" the issue. However, he had to override the safety mechanism that causes the car to recognize what gear the car is in before it can turn off. So now I have to drive around, hoping I don't accidentally press the power button and shut off my car on the road. The car was inspected by a representative from progressive. They determined a mechanical failure and denied my claim for coverage. This is bs.

I purchased it and within two months the cars breaks were slow to respond, or would lock up and the parking break did not work. The car suddenly shifts into neutral while driving on the high way and surface roads, loses power and has nearly caused multiple accidents. Other times when I try to shift, it does not respond. Car stalls going up hill and at stoplights. I took it for diagnostics twice and both places stated that the symptoms are mirroring the earlier recall problems. One said the spark plugs are ruined from some other issue. When I called the manufacturer they stated that it had previously been repaired on recall. I contacted the dealership where I purchased it and they told me the car was sold "as is". The problems only got worse. The battery would go dead all of the time. I replaced it and still had the same problem. Windows wouldn't go up and down properly, sun roof would not open and close. Every time I used the blinker to turn right, the windshield wipers would turn on. Now they will not turn off at all. It also turned out that the tires had dry rot. When I went in for an oil change I was told that oil was back flowing into a part of the car that it shouldn't. Now I have to pay $300+ plus towing to have the dealership do a diagnostic so that I can ask the manufacturer to cover the cost of repairing it (again) because the first repairs done when the previous owner had it, did not work. The car is a death trap. At this point the car has been sitting until I can afford repairs because ive been scared to death to drive it. Too many near misses, once with a semi, when the car shut down while doing almost 70mph. It should be illegal to sell this car to anyone new or used. I have an appointment at the Dodge/Chrysler dealership for repairs, but since it was supposedly "fixed" previously, I have very little faith that it can or will be properly repaired.

The shifter cable for this car once again came undone. I did the first original recall a couple a years ago and once again the same issue is happening.

The micro shift on the shifter does not push the lever up enough to register that the car is in park. You think your car is in park until you go to take the key out and it does not come out. Or I parked in a parking spot thinking I put it in park as my car displayed park and it started rolling. There is a whole forum about this issue . So I know I’m one of hundreds. This is really unsafe.

The service transmisson lite came on and then it was flashing gear not available and put in n, r, d. But was stuck in n while I was driving on the interstate at 70mph, I almost got ran over trying to get off the road. The tcm was already replaced. I had replaced the sdu and still does the same thing. This happens often. The car will sit for a while and then it will do it again. It will also rev up like up press the gas pedal down but not touching it, this will happen while setting or after I put it in drive. The bluetooth isn't working, it will work if the battery is unplugged but then after a day or 2 it stops. I have replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils and it still losses power occasionally. The back up camera doesn't work sometimes also the air condition and the air will come on but shows that it's off. This car is a piece of garbage, and dealers will just keep selling it even though they know it has a lot of issues that they can't seem to fix. Most of the people in the forums all having the same issues that never get fixed! this car needs a total recall.

Transmission shifting cable bushing is stripped. Car is stuck in park.

Transmission control module failed. Gear shifts into neutral when driving and shuts car off. Gear position sensor bad causing gear to shift while driving.

I was parked. When I turn my car on to put it in drive the shift moved but the car manually stayed in park. I had to continuously turn it on and off to get it in drive.

My rear facing camera has begun to malfunction. Sometimes it does not work at all and sometimes the image comes through upside down. I am told it will many dollars to determine if its the camera or its connection to my radio. In either event, the fix is said to cost over one thousand dollars.

The rear backup camera turns off or doesn't function while in reverse frequently.

I took my car in for the last recall and now my car wont shift into gear. The gear shifter moves but does not connect to my car to get it to start going. Ive called the dealership and they wont even call me back. My car won't even move. This is a huge hazard!!!.

Car stops moving as you are driving it. Took it to multiple mechanics including Dodge dealership. Dodge stated they see this often with Darts. Engine light and service transmission is on screen after it stops moving (rpm revs but no movement). Been ongoing since August 2018. Sending photos of some of the beginning incidents to not overwhelm.

I was backing out of the driveway to go to work and my car suddenly stopped. All the lights on the shifter had turned red and moving the shifter did nothing. I restarted the car and everything worked normally but I am concerned about my car doing it again while driving on a busy road and put mine and other drivers safety in jeopardy. The car is available for inspection at any time. There were no other inspections or warning signs of this happening.

The incident that occurred involved my clutch and transmission. I had purchased the car (8/17/2021)about 2 weeks before complete failure. Everything was going fine until I entered the freeway (8/26/2021)and after driving around 5 miles in 6th gear doing about 65 with no initial issues, I started to smell something burning. I immediately looked for the safest way to get out of traffic. While slowing, gears weren’t shifting and I was basically stuck in neutral. I only had control of brakes and steering wheel which caused me to have to make extremely dangerous evasive maneuvers. Once safe, I was able to find the source of the smoke. Which turned out to be dot 3 from where, what I think is the slave cylinder connects to the top of the transmission. I was able to remove it to check for damage/defection. It was dripping dot 3 and I didn’t see any noticeable defects. Plugged it back. Tried to drive and the clutch engages to start vehicle/change gears. But gears were able to change without clutch as well. Yet I couldn’t get out of neutral. Towed it home, next day clutch pedal was on the floor with no pressure. All components are available for inspection upon request, the safety of everyone involved was put at risk due to me not having any control of anything but the brakes and steering; with no warning or idea of what could be wrong due to the instantaneous nature of the disastrous incident. On a public highway with people going speeds of up to 85 mph. I have not been able to get confirmation or reproduction by anyone. I have not had any inspection due to my lack of knowledge on this process. There was no warning light or indication that the incident was going to happen until I had limited-no control.

A recall on the shifter cable bushing was said to be completed on 01/15/20 at shelor motor mile, christiansburg, va. On 08/21/21, the bushing broke and came off the shifter cable, leaving the car stuck in gear. In between the time of the alleged recall repair and this happening (~18 months), my car was driven from 40,000 to 60,000 miles. I believe the dealer dishonestly said they fixed the recall to pocket money and banking it wouldn’t fail in my car. This was a safety issue to me and could have been much worse. A recalled part that was fixed should not have failed less than 2 years and 20,000 miles later. I am now left to fix the repairs on my own. This dealer should be investigated to ensure others are getting their recalls properly taken care of so it is not a threat to their life/property.

Car in park with emergency brake on abs will not turn off. Says vehicle not in park. Took several times shifting back and forth to get the car to turn off.

While driving the car will jump out of drive into neutral. It has done this for about a year now and when I got the car was told by mt airy Dodge that there was a recall on the shifter which would fix the problem I havent had the shifter serviced yet but I called today to make an appointment to have that recall fixed for them to tell me my car doesnt have any recalls.

The car stalls. . . Normally after slowing down & turning. Transmission inoperable code along with check engine light. Very dangerous.

May 2020 - informed of a transmission shifter cable recall , addressed and fixed 05/14/2020 March 11th 2024 - transmission shifter cable failure.

The car after the start it smells like some electrical circuit is burning from inside and it comes mostly after 10 or 20 mins drive intensively and at the same time the car starts to jerk when accelerating.

I was driving to get my son pulled into parking spot put car in park well I thought it was I start to get out and car keeps going even after key was turned off. My car is was stuck in drive position the shifter cable came completely off! it happened three-four more times after I got the piece back on. Which one time was very dangerous and couldn't have been bad. Especially since I was driving with a child one out of four of the times.

While driving my car at times will shift into neutral, the car says service transmission, service shifter, autostick unavailable, gear not available and put car in reverse and try another gear and a lot of lights show up on the dash. The last time it happened was on Friday 12/20/19 I was at a stoplight and the car began to beep and stating service transmission etc. As stated before, I then had some people push me off the road since the car will just go into neutral no matter what gear it is in. After the car being left there until Sunday 12/22/19 it would still not work, I had the car towed to my home. And it started working again, I went around the block and once going 40 mph the car started beeping and went into neutral and saying all the things said before, I was pushed back home. This morning I tried it again and as soon as I turn it on it states the same service transmission etc. I have had my car towed 4 separate occasions within the last 6 months.

The car will not start. All the lights and electrical come on when key is in, but the car doesn't even try to turn over. I already had a sensor replaced that was suppose to be the problem, but it keeps occurring. Gives a warning that states autostick is unavailable, service transmission. It also keeps telling me I have a parking light out, which I don�t. The car also has a brand new battery. This needs to be fixed. I am tired of wondering if my car will start when I need to get my children from school.

The clutch peddle goes to floor and won't return it is stated by many others that the clutch peddle slave cylinders are defective in these cars when this happens it made the car unsafe to drive try to get in to a Dodge dealership they sais it will be a week before they will be able to look at it they know their is a problem with this part I do have documentation about others having tis same issue.

Well my car headlight and the paneling caught on fire in my car went to car hop to advise them took the car to one of there dealers advised that they don't do electrical at the same time the recall came in advised me that a recall was needed too k it to dealership and as of now 30 days behind on the part advised carhop that the repairs have been made before I brought the car that wasn't done correctly which made me have to pay for the recall work they swear they didn't bit the state and carfax say otherwise it wasn't done by Dodge in no state but by there mechanics at this time the car is dangerous to drive it's still at Dodge and carhop said they will resell it to another family even though I advised them the panel caught on fire and there is a short.

Car parked in driveway. Start car and go to back up. Shift to reverse, gear doesn't change. Car doesn't move. Still says it's in park. Car won't shift gears.

I attempted to turn on my engine. Car would not start. Interior and exterior lights worked. Battery in good shape and charging. Clicking sound when attempts to turn engine on.

This is for recall v34. Which was issued early in the year. My wife was driving down the highway, 1 near robinson illinois to be exact and the car just stopped driving forcing her to steer onto the side of a very busy highway! this could have been very bad!!!! I find it insane that Chrysler is dragging their feet on this part! my wife could have been killed!!!!! not too mention if my daughter and I were in the car when this happened. Chrysler knows this part and these cars are unsafe but are not willing to do anything about it! on top of everything you want me to dish out the money to put another recalled part on my car, no thanks!! do something about this.