Dodge Dart - History, Major Flaws, & Why It Got Cancelled (2013-2016) 

Just to be clear no hate on the Dart! I don't think it's a bad car at all and don't mind the look of some of them, just wrong car at the wrong time with the flaws I mentioned

I had a 2015 raylle edition but I ended up loosing it due to a car accident that resulted in me getting T boned by an f150 with a lift kit moral of the story that car saved my life

I bought a 2013 Rallye and was super disappointed that they were discontinued. This little car while under powered with the 2.0 has been amazing. It's got 178,000 miles, and has only needed basic maintenance done. Still gets 30mpg. I couldn't be happier with how this car has run. It has served it's purpose well in being a commuter car.

2015 Dart owner; I'm at 80K and it hasn't let me down, but I've also done a lot of work myself and kept up with maintenance. I haven't found another car that fits my liking by features and internals. I don't regret my purchase, but I have felt very uneasy since it was discontinued. I chose the GT trim to get the 2.4L engine and avoid the DDC-Transmission which seemed to be causing a lot of problems for people. From the day I bought it to current day, I always answered people that I wouldn't recommend the car when asked, but that it fits me perfectly. I know that sounds odd, but it's hard to explain.

1. Should’ve been called the Neon 2. Should’ve had an SRT-4 trim

I was driving down my street a few months ago and I saw one of these sitting in the middle of the street with its flashers on, had to get out and help a lady push it out of the way of traffic. Sounded like the transmission went out, it would rev up but not move an inch. Couldn't believe I had to get out of my 18 year old van to push a 4 year old car lol.

I own a 2015 Ralleye and I love it. I really wish dodge works on a new dart to release in the future when it’s ready

We have a 2016 Dart and it is quick and nice handling. It is dependable and comfortable. I even enjoy driving it when my wife and I go out. It is sad they stopped the production and it will be missed.

They shouldve just renamed it the Neon when they made the car instead of taint the Dart heritage

SRT trim level would of made me the bought this car

I love my dart. 155k miles on it and still runs like a champ. Only repairs so far have been the motor mounts and struts. Just keep up with your routine maintenance is all I can say

I owned one for 3 years and absolutely loved it! Never gave me one problem and was very comfortable

I have a 2016 Dart GT with the 6 speed and the 2.4 motor. Love the car. Never had any issues other than typical oil, tires, etc. bought it in 2017 brand new, now it has 43,000 miles. Still no huge issues.

I really wanted a Dart when they came out. They look amazing and the features on it were impressive. Also seemed like a reasonable car to have. I feel Sergio is to blame for the death of two could have been great cars. The Dart and the new 200. He didn't seem to give them a chance and an SRT4 would have made people pay more attention.

The three biggest issues with the Dart listed in order. #1: Fiat #2: Fiat #3: Fiat

I bought a used 2016 6 speed manual turbo Dart as a daily and I love it. It's a fun little car that gets me through Houston traffic pretty well. I've owned a lot of different Dodge turbo cars in the past. Mostly the 2.2 turbos of the 80s like the Daytonas, Chargers, and the Omnis. I've always liked Dodge turbo cars. My other car is a 2016 6 speed manual Camaro SS so I was very happy to find a manual for my daily. I plan on keeping the Dart for a while and probably do a few more mods to it. Overall I'm really happy with my little Dart as my daily.

That isn't a real dart that's a baby charger.

Another great informative video homie

Very informative, I always wondered why the Dart did not do as good as the focus, and now I see why.

In May 2014, FCA originally set their sights on the SRT-4 Dart being an AWD car with a 300 hp turbo 2.0L I4 dubbed the "Hurricane" engine. Over the next few months, word got out that were problems with the engine and production, along with the likelihood it would not reach the 300 hp mark. Then about a year later Dodge inexplicably removed the Dart from the planned SRT lineup, slapping the GLH tag on the vehicle instead, and stating it would have roughly the same power as the original SRT-4, 220 hp, and FWD instead. FCA basically saw the market for AWD vehicles drop sharply, and with the idea of a 30,000 dollar AWD SRT Dart failing to sell, word is they retooled the entire idea of what the vehicle would be. While the GLH moniker is a nod to the FWD Mopar days of old, with the Omni GLH (or GLH-S), it was a major disappointment for SRT fans who wanted another SRT-4, both in the idea of using the wrong name, and that the HP output would be so much lower. Everything was pushed back to late 2017 (as stated in late 2015). Then in January 2016, rumors abound that the Dart and Chrysler 200 would possibly be axed to "make room to expand production of Jeep and Ram models". In September of 2016, FCA officials confirmed that production of the Dart would halt at the end of that month. So what exactly happened that sunk the Dart? Nearly every publication covering the Dart before launch in 2012 raved about the exterior looks, the configurable dash display, and many other innovative features. But FCA botched the launch, the nine-speed ZF auto transmission wasn't ready in time for the Dart's arrival, forcing the use of a Hyundai six-speed and Fiat dual-clutch auto at the last minute. To make matters worse, none of them were ready for the Dart's arrival, so for the first several months there were only manual "stick shift" Darts, which many customers weren't able to test drive, even if they wanted to. Not surprisingly, sales figures were drastically affected, only 25k Darts were sold in 2012. To put this into perspective, Dodge averaged sales of about 150k Neons per year from 1994 to 2005, the final full year of production. Considering the damage that the Caliber had already done to Dodge's "small car" reputation, it was not surprising to see the launch issues cause major problems for the Dart. Even so, they were able to increase sales to over 80k for 3 years in a row. FCA did not upgrade the Dart to keep on track with other manufacturers, and offered no incentives to entice people to buy the car. That combined with an oversaturated small car market led to major sales reductions in 2015, fewer than 45k Darts were sold (less than half of the previous year). The demise of the dart had far more to do with the failure to keep the model up with competitors (both technologically and price wise) than it did with any quality or build issues. So what of any SRT-4, or even a small car from Dodge/Chrysler now? Well, there was a rumor going around for some time that there would be a new small Dodge built on the Alfa Romeo Giula platform. However, nothing has been talked about in that respect for at least a year now. FCA seems squarely focused on Ram trucks, Jeeps, and the full size car market, the only available info is again, rumor, with a Chrysler 100, or "Newport" possibly in the works by 2022, on the GM Fiat SUSW platform. But even if that happened, the only source engine available would be a standard 1.4L turbo, an engine that has built a terrible reputation for being gutless and unreliable. As an owner of a 2005 SRT-4, this is all frustrating to see. The Shadow/Sundance and Neon sold like crazy. Then DaimlerChrysler screwed up big time with the Caliber. The Dart started things back in the right direction for FCA, but again, innovation blew right on past them, and the Dart died too. Considering how much money Ford and Chevy make from their small cars (Focus/Cruz respectively) it is really sad that FCA can't seem to jump start anything in that market worth a hoot.

The Dart is in every racing game.

I own a Dart. Love it.

Very nice input about the Dodge Dart. I am test driving a fully loaded red SXT 2015 this week. Looking forward to it. Its a sweet car.

I had a 2013 Dodge Dart Rally for 4 years , bought used and put over 70,000 miles on it, never gave me one issue. Great car, looked a lot faster than it was , but it was fun to drive nonetheless and reliable. I traded it in for my Dream car a JL Jeep

Man I lowkey miss my Dodge Dart Gt, it wasn’t fast but it was a fun car!

I currently own a dart, and I won't deny any of the information provided isn't true, but personally I love my car. Since I'm a student and work at the same time, it satisfied having a semi-sporty look and also being opted out enough that I enjoy driving it daily. I also got it at the time because it wasn't a super common vehicle. I drive to town about 2 - 3 times a day and only fuel up about every week and a half to two weeks. Of course, this varies given circumstances. I bought it used at 34000 miles, and haven't had any demanding issues thus far. Overall, I'm happy with the car. Perhaps my only gripe is how low it sits.

Currently buying a Dart and i want to say thanks for the video, I didnt see it as a way to trash talk the Dart but more a good explanation why they stop producing, to me i always loved the Dart ever since i saw it on the road for the first time but ive always had V8 engine, the fuel economy is still a upgrade for me even tho its not optimal for others and the manual transmition is a plus for me (personal opinion) anyhow, when i saw the title i was afraid to litsen cuz maybe their would be many problem i would have to look for but im glad that this video made me understand that the flaws are stuff i can deal with, nothing to stop me from buying this car!, Great video! Thank you

Hey very informative and concise video I enjoyed it.

I have A 2016 SE of the dart and I love it really I do 😭😭 don’t talk about my baby like some failure 😂😂😂

I really like mine i got it new when i was 18 but after 3 1/2 years i feel its time to move up to something a lil bit bigger. Good memories

It actually was a class leader in many things during its time, things Like technology or power, no one in 2012 had an 8 inch screen or 184 hp and its trunk size and interior room was much greater than other mid sized sedans

yo I have a dart I love it but dont get me wrong you were spot on what a great video I'm smashing that sub keep it up

You can sell this car better than any sealsman can with just facts, 3 mins in and I already want one

After seeing this video i still went and bought a dart sxt fully loaded. And i love itt.

Wow dude, really in depth information and super professionally edited; great job!

Awesome video! I own a '14 Dart and its nice to know why I did so bad.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my '15 Dart GT!!!

I had a 6 speed manual with the 1.4l multiair turbo motor. That was a great little car, would have kept it if not for trading in on my 1500 ecodiesel. That car usually averaged me 35mpg, though my truck regularly averages me 29mpg.

Great info and narrator thanks😎

I test drove three different darts hoping to find something I'd love. It was a gorgeous car but every one I drove was rough. You felt every little bump in the road. They weren't fast, which I'd expect of a car gets mileage as poor as it does, there just wasn't anything that made me want one aside from outer appearance. It was sad because I aggressively wanted one. I wound up buying a Ford Fusion which I've loved, and I've always been a Dodge fanboy. Unfortunately nothing they had in my price range appealed to me. Ultimately my choice was between the Fusion I bought, a Mazda 6, and a Kia Optima. All 3 of those cars were excellent.

I have a 2013 sxt even tho it’s a small car it’s got a good sounding exhaust

I was a Chrysler engineer in the plant when the Dart launched. Some cool stories, but everything was rushed for suppliers and the Fiat sourced engineers for the engine/trans offered less technical support than I prefer. End-of-line daily issues were high, and some days there were so many they had to park the "rework" cars outside. I think the base Dart SE with the "Power tech" engine would have been fine, but it was rather bland in that trim.

2013 Dart Aero has been almost flawless for 10 1/2 years and 156k miles. Only issue other than normal maintenance was a Uconnect module that went bad while under warranty. Been a great car.

I have one and love it. It’s very interesting to know is history. Shame it wasn’t created more carefully. I believe it could have been a very strong sedan. Thank you for the video.

Almost bought a brand new dart but bought a used challenger instead. I also drive a 2015 chrysler 200 S and love it. It does have the weird transmission kick between 4th and 5th gear but love the power of the 3.6 V6 in a small car.

Reason 1 why FCA discontinued the Dart, they wanted Belvidere dedicated to high margin Jeep production.

All I remember from the commercials is “don’t touch my dart”

I had a 2014 Dart GT and it was my first manual car. I bought it used with 18k miles on it and after I bought it I found a receipt for a new clutch at 3k miles. I had a lot of electrical issues with mine with interior lights and the screen just randomly going off. It wasn’t a easy car to learn stick on either as I was still stalling a year after I bought it. Wasn’t a fan of the car but I loved the looks. I since upgraded to a 2017 Ford Fiesta ST and it was the best upgrade I could have did for my age that is.

I always thought the dart was a good and fun looking yet efficient car. I did think it had way too many electronic safety features (probably contributed to its excess heft) though. Hearing a number of issues with the 4 cylinder and 9-speed combo (from the 200 and cherokee), its a good thing they didnt put the 9 -speed in the dart.

Focus and cruze is now discontinued in north america

I know this is a two year old video, but I used it to figure out how to get the positive terminal off of my daughters 2016 Dart and replace the battery. Good video and that you.

I own a 2013 Dodge Dart sxt with the dual dry clutch automatic. I bought it used with 89,000 km on it, now there is 168,000 km on it now. I’ve been asked to sell it numerous times and I will never sell it. It is one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. It was only this year that I had to put any large amount of money into it for maintenance. The engine is the 2.0 tiger shark and no issues with it.

I own a dart! It’s a good car. Had it for 2 years and so good it’s a 2013 turbo still in love with it !🤩

Great video bro👍👍 But can you make a video on why FCA cancelled the Dodge Avenger 2008-2014 .

You do a great job researching these (Mopar) cars, which makes your reviews really interesting.

I've had a Dodge Dart SXT turbo for 7 years. With the exception of a couple of recalled I've had zero problems with this vehicle

this car had so much potential, sadly wasted

I've driven a few Darts and I really like them. I almost bought one, but it was an early production model and it felt cheap and the headlight switch came off in my hand, if it wasn't for that I would have bought it as it was much more comfortable than the competition and way more fun to drive

Loved my 2013 Dart. Very comfortable and reliable. Mine had the Aero package and got 42 mpg highway and around 32 city. Eventually had to get a 4wd due to Ohio winters but still miss the Dart.

I have a 15 Rallye Package Dart from coming from an Expedition 4x4 with a 5.4L engine and man have my pockets appreciated the change. Bought mine with 12miles from me test driving it twice. I love my Dart and wouldn't trade it for anything! My car is a prototype where they started the eco gas but I have the 2.0 VSS and people compliment me on how great she sounds. I only had 2 issues since having it which was my cruise control panel needing to be switched out and my BT switched out and that was all within the 6k mileage and under my warranty. Great on gas I get 25-28 on the city and I live in GA and 32-34 on the highway. She currently has 91,1k miles from me driving back and forth home to Florida. I've done mods to her and everything. Next purchase after paying her off is a Durango SRT or Charger R/T.

If you own a Dart and want an actual community of people to talk to, join DartsofMerica on Facebook. Over 4K people on it. Has yearly Midwest meets as well

I drove the Dart and the Chrysler 200. Both cars looked ok, however the performance was an issue. There was too much of a Delay with the Dart when accelerating. And when it comes to the Chrysler 200, the car had the 9 speed transmission. The trans sounded good on paper, however when driving it seamed like the transmission has troubled with the gears when driving in town. It didn't know what gear it needed to be in around town.

I own a base model '13. Bought it new and drive it everyday, other than typical stuff (brakes, tires) no issues mechanically. Aerodynamics on the other hand, it doesn't handle well in windy conditions and if it's raining or snowing everything that comes over the roof collects in the center of the rear window blocking the view. Plus it's hard to see out of during shoulder checks. Otherwise I like driving it, it handles corners well and the 6 speed manual offers many torque/speed options. Not a fast car but it's power is more "usable".

Love my 2015 Dart. Bought it in 2017 with 79K on it as it was a commuter car. There are only two things i am not too thrilled with and that there doesn't seems to be any normal type rims other than the low-profile style that isn't practicle for the pot-holes of New York. Also, the rough idle. According to the dealer, it is a design flaw from the factory. What I did do for the ride was to put snow tires on it this season and found that the ride was smoother and more comfortable. Nice ride. I think if Chrysler took its time and redisigned it to be what it was meant to be, they could have a real winner here. Thank you for the video.

Sad man. Wish they would have made an SRT version of it. That was the only thing that made the Neons special...

If im not mistaken the srt4 was announced... then shortly after the whole car was cancelled

I just bought myself a 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye as my first car. I really like it and I was able to get the dealership to get the recalls fixed at no additional cost to me. Really nice video, its actually really interesting to me that more 2013 Honda Civics were sold than all of the Darts combined over 4 years

You made this video 4 days after I got my Dart. I still have it, and I've had so many problems.... still pretty dope

The 1.4 Turbo with 6 speed is pretty fun. especially because the Fiat 1.4 responds really well to performance bolt ons.

The Dart was a damn good looking car.

I now own 2 of these 2013 & 2015 with the 2.0 and manual transmissions - love them and plan on driving them for a very long time. 38-42MPG constant with virtually no problems except when you hit a deer but all fixed and good. I like that they are heavy as I put on GoodYear Ultra-Grip tires for the winter - except for being low to the ground and if they get snow under them picking them up so to speak - virtually impossible to get stuck. The only comaparable I have otherwise looked @ is the Mazda 3 but very pricey in comparison. In my opinion - where these were bad were with 1.4 Italian Turbo and regardless of the transmission. 2.0/2.4 w/manual - all is good. Have driven them on some long trips - very comfortable and no complaints. Video was correct in relation to manual transmissions as to many have gotten to lazy to learn how and enjoy. More important to be playing on their phones while driving.... If I come across a 3rd one that is a 2.0/2.4 manual - I will be very tempted.

I have a 2014 Dodge Dart GT and I love it. Is sad it didn't stick around. But the reasons you state in your video do make sense for sure.

As a European, I have never seen this car. But it is stunningly beautiful to watch inside and out.

Unfortunately lot of the new generation doesn’t even know what stick shift is so when this came to the market it failed miserably. This definitely win out of country tho

I love my dart! 2013 Turbo Rallye ... I’ve never had any major issues with mine, and I drive the hell out of it. I live in Chicago so I enjoy to drive fast and this car definitely keeps up with it. I have done some mods to it also with a new cold air intake among other things.

Nice video!

The biggest flaw is that it was made by Chrysler.

I own two Dodge vehicles. One is this car, which is quite nice for an entry level sedan. The second is a fully optioned Redeye widebody.

I bought my 2013 Rallye edition dart back in November of 2013 with 2 miles on it (2 when I test drove, 15 when I signed the papers). I am a car nerd and love car shopping. I test drove probably 15 other cars in this class from the Cruze, Elantra, carolla, and so on. I also test drove a base model before the Rallye. I did my car blog research and stayed away from the dual clutch and the multiair and have what might be considered the boring 2.0 tigershark with the Hyundai sourced 6speed auto. First off; comfort. Of all the cars I drove, this was the most comfortable, insulated, and sturdy built feeling car I was in. Base vs. Rallye, the dual exhaust sings and I love it. It handles like the mazdas I had in the past, which says a lot. Reliability; I now have just under 90k on it. I am good with maintenance and it has been pretty good. For unscheduled repairs, I had the 8inch touch screen replaced at 35k and an oil pressure sensor changed at 52k, both covered under warranty. When I heard they were cancelling the dart, I was pretty sad since I would buy another one. The other problems with the platform;. I know the 1.4 multiair were having ignition coil and oil feeding problems. The dual clutchs were jerky and people kept bashing then in car complaint blogs. For the 200, it had the 9speed auto, but it's first iteration was problem stricken (same with first year Cherokees).

2022 and i still love my '15 Dart. All I've had to do was change the battery. Runs beautifully to this day.

Coming from a dart owner this hurts🤦🏿‍♂️ ... but is true 🤷🏿‍♂️

I have a 2015 sxt that was my first car that my parents screwed me over with a 10k loan on it. And by far it is the worst car I've ever had the experience of driving. I've had so many issues with the car and now I've got a problem with the keys not coming out. Moral of the story, this car is a pos and should not exist. I'd rather have an older ram or silverado. But the loan is almost paid off and soon all the money I've put into the loan would be a waste.

I have a 2016 2.4L Auto Sxt Rallye edition dart it had 38,000 on it with one owner when I got it last July, it's been great so far. Added led lights to the interior, put in a remote start, rain guards, trunk spoiler, and the elitle floor mats. My only complaint so far is the stereo pain in the ass for it to be upgraded so I'm stuck with the stock non touch screen radio. But the mpg isnt too bad I've only put close to 4,000 on it so far, so I'm hoping this lasts awhile for me. Great video!

I have a 2015 SXT Ralleye, 2.4L, manual, and I love it! Damn fun car to drive.

I personally think it was a big mistake not selling the Dart in Latin America. If the price was right I’m sure they would’ve sold lots of them. Here in Peru, for example, compact cars still outsell crossovers so it’s not like there’s not a market for compact cars anymore.

Seems like a steal and an optimal choice for a daily/commuter. Ive seen them for around 4-7k and I’m heavily considering getting one to keep milage off my wrangler.

My 2015 dart has 40,000 miles and it hasn’t had a single issue yet and I love it

I love my red 13 dart with 1.4T and manual with the ralleye pack. Even if i changed the dart badge on the back to a “shart” badge.

I love this car!!!! I have a 2015 Dodge Dart I got it brand new and I’ve had it for 4 years and it’s great to me!!

Dodge is notorious for building bad transmissions. In many of their cars, they also put the exhaust and catalytic converters too close to the transmission. Heat is the number one worst enemy when it comes to transmission longevity.

i just barely bought a dart cuz i wanted to learn stick and so far ive really enjoyed the simplicity of it

I'm thinking of getting a dart I found one for 5k in my area I plan to do halo headlights, underglow, custom rims, wrap it, custom head unit, and custom speakers.

Too bad they discontinued it. I would have bought one in a heartbeat.

Maybe we as Americans should LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A STICK!! Its a lot more fun than an automatic and usually cheaper to maintain.

2015 Dart GT owner here. I got it in December 2017, brand new, as a left over- nearly 3 years old! It has 85,000 miles on it now and it’s running fine :-). The tight suspension and handling are as snug as they were day one. 👍

I drive a 2015 Dodge Dart Limited. It has everything one would ever want in a car. Mine has a Garmin navigation computer, which I appreciate having. It has reverse camera to help you see what's behind you as you reverse, another thing I appreciate.

The Dart was a very good looking car, and it could've been a great one. But the poor decision making at the corporate level took away any chance it had.

As the owner of a 2015 dart Limited, I can say I love the car, Now that its discontinued dealers are trying to get them back on the lot for used cars, I was offered 13000 for my dart by the local dodge dealer as trade in on a Jeep

I own a 2014 dart sxt and I have to say I love the car, it handles like a champion with the pedal floored. Haven't had any issues except the 2 recalls for the touch screen and the most recent transmission bushing. It had a lot of potential imo. I do have to say the transmission feels lacking sometimes but that's about it. Wish it had some more power to it 😂. Got it up to 132 if I would have kept trying to go would have blown the engine.

A friend of mine bought a dart brand new in 2013(?). It was a good car and she really liked the styling for about the first few weeks or so. And then it started to have reliability problems and interior parts began to literally rattle apart. She traded it in with less than 40k miles for a Focus.