2016 Dodge Dart Problems, Recalls & Reliability

361 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Dodge Dart, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 24/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 55,000 miles.

361Complaints
24/100Trouble index
5Recalls
48,300Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2016 sits among all Dart years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Transmission & drivetrain 79 complaints (22%) · typically ~55,000 miles
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Dart
Engine 67 complaints (19%) · typically ~44,500 miles
“While driving the vehicle it will randomly have complete loss of power without warning and the battery light would turn on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Dart
Other 64 complaints (18%) · typically ~49,109 miles
“My shifter cable snapped while driving home from work. Found out about the recall trying to get it fixed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Dart
Electrical 52 complaints (14%) · typically ~49,413 miles
“On a daily bases my car will not start. (mornings before work, evenings after work, when ever i stop the car and come back to it.) i must start the car with a jump machine whenever i turn it off. Today the radio started going out. Once the radio goes out it feel like it wants to cut off in motion,…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Dart
Brakes & stability 27 complaints (7%) · typically ~56,132 miles
“Emergency brake stopped working on 4/20/19, so i had an auto shop repair it 4/30/19. The emergency brake stopped working again yesterday, 5/16/19.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Dart
Visibility & wipers 13 complaints (4%) · typically ~23,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 196 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 48,300 miles. Half of those reports fall between 31,400 and 68,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

POWER TRAIN 25V674000 2025

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.

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…

POWER TRAIN 19V293000 2019

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.

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…

EQUIPMENT 17V824000 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at:…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service…

VISIBILITY 16V813000 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured April 13, 2015, to June 7, 2016. Due to voltage spikes caused by a problem within the windshield washer pump, the windshield wiper circuit may fail.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield washer pumps, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16V113000 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Dart vehicles manufactured July 25, 2015, to December 16, 2015 and equipped with a 2.0L engine and a manual transmission. Additionally included are certain 2015 Dodge Dart vehicles similarly…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the Engine Control Module software, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

Federal defect investigations

Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures RQ25002 opened 2025, closed 2025

Technical service bulletins

193 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Dodge Dart. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Dart TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2015peak 93 in 20192026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Dodge Dart reliable?

The 2016 Dodge Dart drew 361 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 24/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).

What are the most common 2016 Dodge Dart problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Dodge Dart are transmission & drivetrain (79 complaints), engine (67), and other (64).

At what mileage do 2016 Dodge Dart problems show up?

Owners most often report 2016 Dodge Dart problems around 48,300 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 31,400 and 68,000 miles.

Does the 2016 Dodge Dart have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Dodge Dart. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2015 Dart All Dart years
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.