Dodge recalls 298,000 vehicles over critical 'rollaway' safety vulnerability
Dodge recalls 298,000 vehicles over critical 'rollaway' safety vulnerability
Dodge is recalling 298,436 Dart sedans from the 2013 to 2016 model years due to a serious safety issue with their automatic transmissions. The defect, which involves transmission shift cable failures, poses a risk of vehicles rolling away unexpectedly, potentially leading to crashes or injuries. This marks the second time Dodge has issued a recall for this specific problem.
The original recall for the same issue occurred in 2019, affecting approximately 298,400 vehicles. Despite repairs conducted under that effort, new failures have been documented. According to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the current recall stems from continued failures of shifter cable bushings, even after earlier repairs.
NHTSA warns that "a failure of the shift cable to maintain connection to the transmission can cause an unexpected and unrecoverable loss of park (‘LoP’) function and/or a vehicle movement in an unintended direction." This could result in the car silently rolling away, increasing the risk of accidents or harm to individuals nearby.
Timeline of the Issue
The problem resurfaced after NHTSA noticed an uptick in remedy failures beginning in late 2024. FCA US, the American subsidiary of Stellantis that manages Dodge, began investigating the issue in early 2025. By April 2025, FCA US had not identified any instances of vehicles rolling away, but NHTSA launched a formal investigation in June, which concluded in September 2025.
While no accidents or injuries directly linked to this issue have been reported, FCA US acknowledged 560 warranty claims potentially related to the defect, spanning from October 2019 to April 2025.
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What's Next for Owners?
Dodge is currently working on a solution to address the defect, though a specific remedy notification date has not yet been announced. Dealers were first informed of the recall on October 16, and affected vehicles were added to NHTSA's VIN search tool the same day. Interim notifications for owners are planned between November 6 and November 13.
Owners of affected vehicles can check their car's recall status by using the NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool. Repairs made under the recall will be free of charge. FCA US has also stated it will reimburse customers who previously paid for fixes related to this issue through its "general reimbursement plan on file."
Broader Recall Context
This recall is part of a broader series of safety issues linked to Dodge and Ram vehicles. Recently, over 30,000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups were recalled for failing to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and in September, around 220,000 Dodge and Ram vehicles were recalled due to faulty rearview cameras. Earlier in the year, 10,000 Ram 1500 pickups were recalled for gauge cluster programming errors that caused incorrect tire pressure readings.
Production of the Dodge Dart ended in 2016, but a small number of these vehicles continue to be sold, with six units sold this year alone.
How to Proceed
Owners of affected Dodge Dart sedans are urged to act quickly to resolve the issue. According to NHTSA, unresolved recalls can pose significant risk. Drivers are advised to schedule repair appointments at authorized dealerships as soon as their VIN is confirmed as part of the recall. Until the defect is addressed, owners should take precautions to avoid parking on sloped surfaces and always use their parking brake to minimize the risk of rollaway incidents.