If you're set on a used Dodge Dart, the one to hunt for is a 2014-2016 car with the 184-hp 2.4-liter and the regular six-speed automatic, bought cheap and with a dealer printout of open recalls. The 1.4 turbo with the automated manual is the one I'd walk away from. And check the VIN against the 2025 shifter-cable recall (25V674), which covers 2013-2016 cars and can leave one rolling in Park; NHTSA's record still listed the final fix as pending in mid October 2026.
The Dart only lasted four model years. FCA's own 2016 investment release said Dart production at the Belvidere, Illinois plant would end in September 2016 so the plant could build the Jeep Cherokee. So every Dart out there is ten to thirteen years old, from a model nobody updates anymore. That's why they're cheap, and why you should be fussier than you'd be with a Civic.
Engines and transmissions, and which combo to avoid
Three engines were offered. Car and Driver's 2016 Dart page lists a 160-hp 2.0-liter four as standard with a six-speed manual, plus an optional 160-hp 1.4-liter turbo and a 184-hp 2.4-liter. Six-speed automatics went with the 2.0 and 2.4. C/D's verdict is rough: "a rather disappointing offering."
Consumer Reports is more specific. It says the 1.4 turbo has enough power but sounds thrashy, and that the optional automated manual paired with it is unrefined and stumbles at low speeds. The base 2.0 got a better automatic but felt underpowered. CR says the 2.4 became the main engine starting in 2014, with more power but disappointing fuel economy. The good news: taut handling, a composed ride, and a Uconnect touchscreen CR rated among the best. The rear seat is tight and the front seats aren't very comfortable. Don't trust the listing's engine line; decode the VIN with our Dodge VIN decoder guide and look at what's actually under the hood.
Recalls you need to clear
I pulled every year from the NHTSA recalls API (for example, the 2015 Dart query) on Friday afternoon, October 16. The ones that matter most:
- 25V674, 2013-2016: the shifter cable may detach from the transmission, so the car may not go into Park and could roll away. It replaces the 2019 bushing recall, 19V293, and cars fixed under 19V293 need the new remedy too. Interim owner letters went out November 6, 2025, with a second notice promised once the final fix is ready.
- 15V542, 2013-2015 built February 24, 2012 to June 16, 2015: the transmission control module can fail and drop the car into neutral. Dealers replace the TCM and its bracket.
- 15V800, 2013-2014 with the 2.0 or 2.4, built February 27, 2012 to January 23, 2014: oil from the vacuum pump can seep into the brake booster and cut brake assist.
- 16V113, 2016 2.0 manual cars (plus some 2015s): missing backup engine-control software meant to prevent an unwanted torque event.
- Smaller ones: 14V800 (2015 Aero tire-pressure light) and 16V813 (2016 wiper circuit).
One oddity. The 2013 query only returned 25V674, even though the 15V542 and 15V800 summaries both name 2013 cars. So don't stop at a model-year search. Run the exact VIN, the way our Dodge recall check by VIN post walks through.
What owners complain about
The 2013 Dart complaint file is big: 1,174 complaints, 523 tagged power train and 286 tagged service brakes. When I searched the text, 311 mention shifting, 120 mention the clutch and 119 mention the car going into neutral. The later years are lighter, at 372 for 2014, 528 for 2015 and 259 for 2016, but power train still leads each one. Oil comes up in 84 of the 2015 complaints, and the ones I read describe engines burning oil between changes.
One August 2026 complaint stuck with me. The owner says a dealer did the 15V800 brake recall, found no oil, swapped only the vacuum tube, and the car later lost brake assist anyway. That's one person's account and NHTSA doesn't verify it. Still, on a test drive I'd press the brake hard a few times at low speed, feel for a pedal that sinks, and ask for the recall paperwork rather than a "yeah, it was done."
Crash ratings
IIHS rated the 2013-2016 Dart Good in moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraints, but only Acceptable in the driver-side small overlap test. In the second of two small overlap runs, the hinges tore away and the driver door opened, which IIHS called out because an occupant could be ejected. No front crash prevention was offered.
How it stacks up
Honestly, most shoppers are better served by a rival. Our used Honda Civic guide covers the car most people should cross-shop first. A used Chevy Cruze is the closest match on price and size. Our used Ford Focus guide covers the other domestic compact in this price band. A Dart makes sense when it's clearly cheaper than those and the paperwork is clean.
History check before you hand over cash
Cheap orphan sedans get passed around: fleet lives, auction hops, brands moved state to state. Check brands free on NMVTIS, then pull a full report on the VIN yourself rather than accepting the seller's PDF. We've seen edited ones. If you go through us, we're a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller with no affiliation with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. In mid October 2026 a single report has been running about $5.50 for guests and $4.50 for members, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle about $6.75. Retail runs roughly $39.99 to $44.99. Trust the checkout total.
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