The Dart May Come Back to Haunt Dodge Due to New NHTSA Inquiry

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      You probably forgot about the Dodge Dart, didn't you? It holds a few dubious automotive records, and though the revived quasi-successor to the compact Neon was never a true favorite among enthusiasts, Dodge managed to sell several hundred thousand units during its brief revival in the early to mid-2010s. More significantly, Dodge had to recall most of them in 2019 because their automatic transmissions were damaging shifter cables, causing Darts to move unexpectedly even when parked.

      Stellantis attributed the issue to excessive heat and humidity causing the bushings that secured the shifter cables to the transmission to wear out. As these bushings deteriorated, they became loose, making gear selection difficult. Eventually, they could fail completely, and sometimes that occurred even when the vehicles were parked. While no serious incidents were reported, Dodge indicated that the number of documented cases rose into the thousands.

      Now, according to NHTSA, the problem has resurfaced. To complicate things, this issue is reappearing in vehicles that were supposedly “fixed” during the initial recall. Numerous customers have already reported the issue, and there are likely many more affected.

      “NHTSA has received forty-four (44) consumer complaints (VOQs) claiming worn or misadjusted shifter cables, as well as shifter cable detachments after the 19V-293 recall remedy was completed,” the agency stated in its announcement.

      “The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to evaluate the effectiveness of the original recall remedy, investigate the root cause of the bushing failures, and identify any other possible causes that may impact the shifter cable's performance,” the agency's announcement continued.

      If NHTSA decides that further action is required from Dodge, it could force the manufacturer to issue another recall for all affected vehicles. The silver lining is that even in the Motor City area, these cars are virtually nonexistent. Out of the 299,000 still reported to be on the road, only about six or seven might actually be running and not decaying in an alley.

      Do you own a Dodge Dart that still works? Reach out to us at [email protected].