320K Dodge Darts Recalled Over Transmission Problems, Rollaway Risks

Federal highway safety officials indicate that more than 320,000 Dodge Dart vehicles are being recalled, due to a risk that the transmission cable may detach, posing problems with gear selection and resulting in a risk that the vehicles may “roll away” when thought to be parked, causing a serious risk for passengers and bystanders.

The Dodge Dart recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 17, following dozens of warranty claims involving roll-away problems that may result from a shifter cable that detached from the transmission.

According to the recall investigation, the manufacturer discovered the shifter cable bushing on the transmission end of the shifter cable may deteriorate and detach, preventing the driver from being able to change gears in vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. In this event, the vehicles could be subject to a roll away hazard if the parking brake, or emergency parking brake, is not applied. Officials are warning all customers to engage the emergency parking brake until the vehicles are serviced and repaired.

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Fiat Chrysler issued a statement on April 19, indicating that no warning signs may become apparent before the shifter cable detaches from the transmission. Therefore, vehicle owners should be cautious if the shifter becomes significantly easier to move, as this could be a sign of detachment.

Customers are being asked to stay alert for audible chimes and an instrument cluster message on the dashboard when exiting their vehicle, as this is a sign that the transmission is not actually in the PARK position with an ajar door.

The recall affects 322,417 model year 2013 through 2016 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured by Chrysler (FCA US LLC) of Auburn Hills, Michigan from February 24, 2012 until October 4, 2016.

Approximately 298,000 recalled vehicles were distributed for sale throughout the United States to licensed dealers, while another 20,117 were shipped to Canada, 3,400 to Mexico, and about 900 were shipped outside of North America.

Chrysler will begin notifying customers of the recall by mailed correspondence with instructions on how to schedule a free repair appointment at their local dealer, where dealers will replace the transmission side shifter cable bushing free of charge.

Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall are being asked to contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 and reference the recall number V34.

8 Comments

  • MichaelOctober 16, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    I've had my 2013 Dodge Dart Aero (Manual) in shops for new transmission and clutch/assembly, and more twice! All within about a years time. There have been various other issues as well. 3 times could have resulted in an accident no doubt.

  • SerafinaSeptember 2, 2022 at 4:30 pm

    I got my re call fixed but now my car won’t start at all because of my key being stuck in the ignition it fried my battery. And they want me to pay $160 for a diagnostic and whatever else for the other issues the recall has caused to my car. They suck, I will never buy from them again!

  • DonnaJanuary 12, 2022 at 1:28 pm

    Well guys i decided to look up recalls on this shitty ass car for the fact of it DID INFACT COST MY MOTHER HER LIFE she literally went off the road shattered thru a tree and and ramped up another and car instantly engulfed in flames and all the while i drive up to find all this so thanks dodge

  • MitchJune 30, 2021 at 8:42 pm

    Hi folks I to have a 2013 Dodge Dart we’re do I begin ya my automatic transmission i go to leave a green light the car sometimes will go and sometimes it won’t when driving down the road the automatic trans pops into neutral some how……. I go to put on breaks and the peddle is very hard to push so no power breaks…… and the throttle just revs up all by its self no foot on gas peddle I think it’s pos[Show More]Hi folks I to have a 2013 Dodge Dart we’re do I begin ya my automatic transmission i go to leave a green light the car sometimes will go and sometimes it won’t when driving down the road the automatic trans pops into neutral some how……. I go to put on breaks and the peddle is very hard to push so no power breaks…… and the throttle just revs up all by its self no foot on gas peddle I think it’s possessed lol this is what I have found out the computer doesn’t match the electronics in the car WHERE IS a THE LEMON LAW……. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS

  • RyanDecember 13, 2020 at 12:44 pm

    This recall has been completed THREE times on my 17 year old sons dart. And now it happened again while he was on a major interstate during rush hour and almost caused a huge pile up. I have been fighting with Chrysler about the issue and they just don’t care. This car is going to kill people! As long as Chrysler has a fat bank account they don’t care about human life.

  • KeithMarch 11, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    Tell me about it...ours failed this weekend and our Dart ran over my 3yr old daughter as she was passing behind the vehicle. Our driveway has a slope to it and the car rolled right down the driveway running over my daughter and eventually trapping and dragging her down the driveway into the road!! I jumped in the car and tried to stop it with the brakes and parking brake and both FAILED!! I ended [Show More]Tell me about it...ours failed this weekend and our Dart ran over my 3yr old daughter as she was passing behind the vehicle. Our driveway has a slope to it and the car rolled right down the driveway running over my daughter and eventually trapping and dragging her down the driveway into the road!! I jumped in the car and tried to stop it with the brakes and parking brake and both FAILED!! I ended up getting the car to a stop with my leg!! I'm literally writing this as I listen to my baby girl scream from the bathroom while her mother bathes her body full of road rash and broken bones!!! This happened Sunday evening, 3/8/20, both my daughter and myself were injured because of SHEER NEGLIGENCE and Chrysler/Dodge was VERY negligent with this deathtrap of a vehicle!! Early production, despite manufacturers warnings because of safety issues, because they intended to make a good chunk of cash on the deal if it went to production sooner than later. Then there's this transmission problem they failed to recognize and FIX, to top it off and now it nearly cost my child her life!! Dodge shouldn't be able to just walk away from this abortion of a vehicle they produced, they know they weren't impressed with it, yet they shove it on the production line as if it's a good safe reliable vehicle!! All for the mighty dollar, doesn't matter if it ends a life!!!

  • JasonSeptember 7, 2019 at 3:56 am

    Chrysler still has no fix for this and will fight you on reimbursement for the repair. Car is a potential deathtrap. no waring when the cable fails

  • JasonSeptember 7, 2019 at 3:48 am

    yeah...there is absolutely no warning when this cable fails whatsoever. I was lucky if failed in a school parking lot as I was going to my sons HS football game....if it failed at an intersection or a Railroad crossing??!!! wow. cable failed at 45K. Im at 72 k with a faulty cable in the car still because Chrysler has not found a good part to replace yet... so they put in another bad part...comi[Show More]yeah...there is absolutely no warning when this cable fails whatsoever. I was lucky if failed in a school parking lot as I was going to my sons HS football game....if it failed at an intersection or a Railroad crossing??!!! wow. cable failed at 45K. Im at 72 k with a faulty cable in the car still because Chrysler has not found a good part to replace yet... so they put in another bad part...coming up at 72K now....wow! talk about scary!! Plus Chrysler is fighting me on my reimbursement for the Original recall replacement reimbursement with a the Chrysler reimbursement on top of it all.....ohh that dealership has pulled some shady stuff on maintenance too. Never again will I get a Chrysler vehicle!

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