The Dodge Dart stinks. It always has been that way, and if this latest recall is any indication, it always will be that way. Despite the fact that production of the car stopped more than nine years ago, its ghost still haunts Dodge. The automaker is recalling nearly 300,000 compact sedans in the U.S. alone due to a loose shift cable that could cause the vehicle to roll away. Maybe that’s the best outcome for dart owners in the big-25, but still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration isn’t thrilled about it.
The massive recall affects virtually every Dart built between February 2012 and October 2016, meaning 298,439 darts are due to be checked out in the US, according to US newspaper The Guardian. NHTSA. Another 20,117 darts in Canada, 3,389 in Mexico and 874 sold outside North America are also in trouble. Automotive News reports. In total that is 322,819 more dissatisfied Dart owners who now have to deal with this nonsense.
Apparently the shift cable can detach itself from the transmission in affected vehicles. When that happens, the Dart may lose its parking function completely and there will be no way to get it back. This isn’t an ideal situation…unless you’re a Dart owner who really wants his car to roll down a hill.
Not the Dart’s first rodeo
This isn’t actually the first time the Dart has been recalled due to a shift cable problem. In April 2019, Stellantis recalled the little misanthrope of a sedan due to an issue with the shift cable bushing coming loose from the transmission. Then, in November 2024, NHTSA told Dodge that it had received reports of a failed fix, according to its report, and in June of this year it launched an investigation.
Fortunately for everyone involved, Dodge is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect. However, in an effort to keep that streak alive, the automaker is encouraging Dart owners to use the parking brake before getting out of their car… just in case. A cure is currently in development, but NHTSA says there is no concrete timeline. Dealers will be notified of the recall on October 16, and owners will receive a letter in the mail sometime between November 6 and November 13.
If you’re a Dart owner looking for a quick and easy way to get rid of that machine, I might suggest finding a really nice cliff or dock and waiting until something go wrong?
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