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2016 Dodge Dart problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
59% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Dodge Dart are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 56%).
Does the 2016 Dodge Dart have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 144 of 246 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Dart concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%), and the largest group is filed under power train (83). For comparison, the 2015 scores 61%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Dodge Dart years
Of the 4 Dodge Dart years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (59%). The worst is the 2015 (61%), the best the 2013 (58%). By volume, the 2016 drew 257 complaints (144 drivetrain), against 527 for the 2015.
Dodge Dart years to avoid and best years →
2013 Dart problems · 2014 Dart problems · 2015 Dart problems · 2016
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Dodge Dart
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Dodge Dart said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 144 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Dodge Dart transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Dodge Dart involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Dodge Dart vehicles. The shifter cable may detach from the transmission, preventing the vehicle from shifting into the park (P) position and causing a loss of park function.
Risk: A loss of park function may allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Vehicles that were previously repaired under recall 19V293 will need to have the new remedy completed. The remedy is currently under development. Interim notification letters, explaining the safety risk, were mailed…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Dodge Dart vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the shift cable to detach from the transmission.
Risk: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the vehicle may not perform the shifts performed by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios…
Fix: This recall will be replaced by NHTSA recall number 25V674. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Dodge Dart? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Dodge Dart
Does the 2016 Dodge Dart have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 144 of 246 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Dart concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Dodge Dart?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Dodge Dart is power train: 83 of 257 complaints (32%) name it, followed by engine (66) and electrical system (48). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Dodge Dart reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 59% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 4 Dodge Dart years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Dodge Dart?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Dodge Dart involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 25V674000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift), 19V293000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Dart years are better?
Among the Dodge Dart years we track, the 2013 (58%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (59%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-dart
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.