4 Best & Worst Dodge Dart Years (With Facts & Stats)

The Dodge Dart, which began in 1960 and halted in 1976, made a return as a 2013 model year and was discontinued after the 2016 model year.

The model is known for its variety of affordable price tag, nimble handling, and sporty design. 

In this article, we’ll scrutinize the best and worst model years of the Dart.

Here’s The Short Answer To What The Best And Worst Years For The Dodge Dart Are:

The best Dodge Dart model years are 2016 and 2014. The worst model years of the Dart are 2013 and 2015. This is based on auto industry reviews, NHTSA statistics, reported problems, and consumer feedback.

What Are The Best Years For The Dodge Dart?

2016 Dodge Dart

The 2016 Dart is the final iteration of the nameplate ever produced.

It has a spacious interior, responsive steering, and great handling, making it a joy to drive.

For its price point, the model provides great value for money as it sports a sleek design and is equipped with a powerful powertrain. 

One of its great assets is its variety in trim levels.

There are a whopping 11 trims to choose from: SE, SXT Sport, SXT Sport Rallye, SXT, Turbo, SXT Sport Blacktop, GT Sport, Aero, GT Sport Blacktop, GT, and Limited. 

There are 3 engine options: the base 2-liter engine (160 horsepower) for entry-level trims, the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine (160 horsepower) for midrange trims, and the bigger 2.4-liter engine (184 horsepower) for the high-end trims.

As for the transmission, all models (except for the Limited trim) come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. 

An optional 6-speed automatic transmission can also be availed of as an upgrade.

All models operate with front-wheel-drive.

EPA statistics claim that you can expect up to 25 MPG for city driving, 36 MPG for highway driving, and 29 MPG for combined driving.

The model performed perfectly in standard crash tests, securing a 5-star NHTSA overall rating. 

  • Edmunds: 3.5 / 5.0
  • Kelley Blue Book: 4.2 / 5.0
  • JD Power: 79 / 100

2016 Dart, Edmunds review:

“The dart has got to be the most underrated car I have ever driven. It performs MUCH better than cars that are supposedly ranked much higher. Every single problem I’ve read in reviews has been driver related. For instance, the seat is not “too high”, it is not fixed and has a very wide range of movement. It’s also not as small as they say. I am over 6 feet and 220lbs, and fit just fine. Acceleration and noise levels are also very good.”

2014 Dodge Dart

The 2014 Dart is the second model year produced since its return as a 2013 model year.

Unlike its direct predecessor, this model showed a lot of promise in terms of performance and overall reliability.

It has a spacious cabin, an excellent optional electronics interface, and energetic acceleration.

Owners get to choose from 5 trims: SE, SXT, Aero, GT, and Limited. 

The mid-range SXT trim is a top pick as it has all the trimmings of the base SE trim and Convenience Group package plus 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, upgraded upholstery, and a 60-40 split-folding rear seating, among other features, all for a moderate price bump.

The entry-level SE trim is powered by a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (160 horsepower).

The SXT, GT, and Limited trims are fitted with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (184 horsepower).

The midrange Aero trim comes with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine (160 horsepower).

All variants, except for the Limited trim, are equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed dual dry clutch automatic transmission is available as an optional upgrade. 

Noteworthy safety features include Post-Collision Safety System, Emergency Braking Assist, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. 

  • Edmunds: 3.5 / 5.0
  • Kelley Blue Book: 4.2 / 5.0
  • JD Power: 79 / 100

2014 Dart, Edmunds review:

“After comparing a lot of compact sedans, I settled for the 2.4L Dart mainly because it was the only car under 20K offering a 2.4L engine and an auto 6 speed. I was firstly delighted by the standard 8.5″ touchscreen control. Absolute pleasure to control music, climate, nav without any distractions. The second thing that I found amazing was the interior cabin space. This C-class compact car almost goes head to head with a D-class sedan. The car has a ride handling that is zippy and fun even though a bit heavy (which is why I feel the mileage is not the best). I’ve driven 2 5-hr long trips on my Dart since I bought (last 2 months) and I found it to be absolutely delightful.”

Consumer Scores For Best Dodge Dart Years

Model YearEdmunds
Consumer Rating
Kelley Blue Book
Consumer Rating
JD Power
Consumer Rating
2016 Dodge Dart3.5 / 5.04.2 / 5.079 / 100
2014 Dodge Dart3.8 / 5.04.2 / 5.079 / 100

Related: How Long Do Dodge Darts Last? (Useful Guide)

What Are The Worst Years For The Dodge Dart?

2013 Dodge Dart

According to CarComplaints.com and CarProblemZoo.com, the 2013 Dart is the most problematic Dart model ever made, by quite some margin.

As CarComplaints.com put it, people should “avoid this model like the plague”.

The 2013 Dart had a high amount of engine and transmission-related problems.

For transmission problems, numerous reports specified rough shifting and outright transmission failure.

On average, transmission-related issues started at around the 25,000-mile mark.

For engine problems, a lot of owners reported power loss and acceleration issues.

Other powertrain problems reported included: RPM fluctuation, clutch pedal failure, and random engine stalling. 

A handful of owners also experienced issues with the cruise control feature. One owner shared his experience below:

“First is the cruise control – it sometimes works, sometimes does not. But when it does, it will at times kick on and off while in use. Scary at times. The next is the loss of power on the freeway. There are times when it will just bog down and not accelerate. Other times it will catch and shift hard, other times will jerk. When these times occur, the check engine light comes on. But then will go off after a period of minutes.”

The 2013 Dart had a total of 418 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,809 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

Common problems:

  • Transmission stopped working
  • Weak suspension system
  • Check engine light on

2015 Dodge Dart

The 2015 Dart was nowhere near as problematic as the 2013 model although it still amassed a large number of complaints.

Numerous owners reported frequent engine stalling, excessive oil consumption, oil leakage, and catalytic converter failure.

An example of this issue is seen in the report below:

“The car stalls completely at random speeds and consumes a huge amount of oil. This stalling is extremely dangerous as it happens at even highway speeds. This is not a unique problem as I have read hundreds of accounts of the exact same thing happening on the exact same vehicle type.”

Another frequent issue was clutch and transmission failure. 

Owners experienced the clutch pedal getting stuck and the clutch not communicating properly with the transmission, which led to either the transmission slipping or getting stuck in gear. 

Here is what a couple of owners had to say regarding this matter:

“Clutch would not engage with transmission causing transmission to freeze in gear while exiting the freeway.”

“The clutch pedal stuck to the floor making it difficult to get the vehicle out of gear and stranding the car.”

The 2015 Dart had a total of 95 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 658 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

Common problems:

  • Engine stalls/dies while driving
  • Steering locks while driving
  • Faulty strut

Related: Dodge Dart In Snow & Winter Driving? (Explained)

What Years Have The Most Complaints?

Model YearComplaints
(CarComplaints.com)
Problems
(CarProblemZoo.com)
2016 Dodge Dart39263
2015 Dodge Dart95658
2014 Dodge Dart106484
2013 Dodge Dart4181,809

What Problems Do Dodge Dart Have?

  • Transmission stopped working
  • Engine stalls/dies while driving
  • Weak suspension system
  • Check engine light on
  • Noise while turning
  • Excessive rotor wear
  • Steering locks while driving
  • Faulty strut
  • Thermostat failure
  • Control arm broke while turning
  • Premature clutch wear

Related: 9 Most Common Dodge Dart Problems (Explained)

What Are The Best Alternatives To The Dodge Dart?

Make & ModelScoreMSRPFuel Economy (MPG)
Honda Civic8.7$25,050 – $43,295City: 22 – 33 /Highway: 28 – 42
Mazda38.6$22,550 – $35,300City: 23 – 28 /Highway: 31 – 37
Volkswagen GTI8.3$30,530 – $39,870City: 23 – 24 /Highway: 32 – 34
Hyundai Veloster N8.2$32,500 – $34,000City: 20 – 22 /Highway: 27 – 28
Toyota Corolla8.0$21,550 – $26,700City: 30 – 32 /Highway: 38 – 41
Hyundai Elantra7.9$20,500 – $34,150 City: 20 – 33 /Highway: 30 – 42
Kia Forte7.8$19,490 – $24,890City: 22 – 28 /Highway: 31 – 39
Volkswagen Jetta7.7$20,655 – $32,385City: 26 – 31 /Highway: 36 – 42
Subaru Impreza7.5$19,795 – $27,395City: 22 – 28 /Highway: 30 – 36
Nissan Sentra7.4$19,950 – $22,700City: 28 – 29 /Highway: 37 – 39
Subaru WRX7.4$30,605 – $43,395City: 19 /Highway: 25 – 26

Source: cars.usnews.com, edmunds.com

Related: How Long Do Dodge Avengers Last? (12 Important Facts)

References

https://www.caranddriver.com/dodge/dart

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/dodge/dart

https://www.edmunds.com/dodge/dart/2016/review/

https://www.kbb.com/dodge/dart/

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2016/dodge/dart

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Dart/

https://www.carproblemzoo.com/dodge/dart/

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...