Home · 2013 · Dodge
2013 Dodge Dart
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
1,153 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2011–2015 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2013 Dodge Dart.
Why caution?
Owners file complaints at a high rate for this model (82 per year on record).
79 complaints involve a crash, fire, injury, or death. Read them before deciding.
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (44% of complaints, typically reported near 35k miles).
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#500 of 541Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Dodge Dart ranks #500, scoring higher than 6% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Dodge Dart 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Dodge Dart, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Transmission & drivetrain
44%505 complaints · typically near 35k mi · 44 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000(POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was u…”
Brakes
24%279 complaints · typically near 37k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“While driving the vehicle the shifter link bushing detached from the cable and came off the transmission causing the shifter to start floating and I lost all control o…”
Electrical system
16%183 complaints · typically near 12k mi · 7 in the last 2 years
“On [XXX], at 5 pm, at [XXX] , the vehicle went into park, but showed as reverse, and the key was unable to be removed, or turn the electrical system off, or place the …”
Engine
15%173 complaints · typically near 15k mi · 9 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle moved forward while shifted to park(P). The check engine warning lig…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 4 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 1,153 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 79 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Power Train · 25V674000
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 November 6, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is A0C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 16, 2025.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Dodge before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Dodge Dart. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 35k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 37k miles). Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Dodge DART beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Dart model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Dodge Dart against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.