Dear Dodge Dart Owners: My Apologies

      Adam Ismail

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      Last week, I penned what appeared to be a straightforward news article regarding the Dodge Dart. For anyone who missed it, the federal authorities are investigating whether a prior recall addressing the transmission shifter bushing actually resolved the intended issue. It was quite dry content, but it counted as news during a week typically lacking in significant updates. To inject some humor, I may have made a few jabs at the now-defunct FCA compact, concluding by slightly embellishing our usual request for tips:

      "Of the estimated 299,000 still out there, perhaps only six or seven aren't languishing in someone’s alley.”

      “Have a Dodge Dart that’s actually operational? Reach out to us at [email protected].”

      Well, despite my tongue-in-cheek comments, it turns out there are indeed more than just a handful of functioning Darts still out there, and many of their owners are readers of The Drive. Defying common internet assumptions—not only did a lot of you read the entire article, but you also seriously considered my rhetorical embellishment.

      Over the holiday weekend, one Dart owner after another filled our inbox with fresh emails, most (though not all) expressing admiration for their vehicles. Honestly, where are you all hiding? And you’re so incredibly nice—too kind to take my playful sarcasm as aggression. Here’s a selection of the messages we received:

      Noah starts off:

      Hello!

      I just finished reading Byron Hurd’s article about the Dodge Dart’s faulty shifter cable. Interestingly, I don’t recall ever receiving a previous recall notice, and I haven’t experienced any issues. I do all the maintenance myself, and my Dart runs wonderfully! I’ll keep this in mind and watch for any recalls!

      Wishing you a Happy Independence Day!!!

      Niclas, another fan of orange cars, adds:

      You bet I have a Dodge Dart. I own one from 2016 and two older models (older than me). The 2016 has around 130,000 miles on it, and thankfully it's not the boring automatic version. It’s seen better days, but it gets me from point A to point B and sometimes to C. I actually drove 1,000 miles to get it since it was the closest one available. It had to be a Dodge, had to be manual, and most importantly, it had to be ORANGE. Thanks!

      Lawrence shares:

      I bought a new 2013 Dodge Dart, and I’m still driving it. It’s been in the shop three times, twice for recalls (TCM and shifter bushing) and once for a wheel alignment (maintenance). The car currently has 109,768 kilometers. It’s equipped with the 1.4 turbo engine with a DDCT transmission. I had to adjust the wastegate, which I believe there’s a bulletin about. The vehicle is excellent on fuel on the highway, almost 1,000 km per tank. I replaced the rear brake pads this spring as the backing plates were rusty due to our winters. So far, it’s been a reliable vehicle. It also has the rare Laguna blue paint (see photo).

      Robert has a secret to keeping his son’s Dart running:

      I wanted to share about my 2013 Dodge Dart. It's still running well, and I now have 170,000 miles on it. I’ve even handed it down to my son, who started driving this summer. Let me know if you have any questions. I did experience a shifter cable failure but managed to fix it myself.

      Roy has had a flawless experience:

      It’s the best car I’ve ever owned. In the nearly eight years I've had it, I've only received one engine error code for a sensor, along with the recalls, which have never caused me any problems. I completed them just because they were recalls. It has better-than-average gas mileage of 26 city and over 30 highway mpg. I haven’t even needed to replace the brakes yet.

      Michael is facing issues, but he’s making it work:

      I have a 2013 Dodge Dart that's having some problems but hasn't become unusable. I actually like the car for the most part; I have a 6-speed 2013 Dodge Dart SE manual.

      Stephanie loves her 2016 and included a photo. Blue Dart enthusiasts are numerous!

      Hello,

      I hope you’re doing well. I’ve owned my Dart for six years now, and I still love it. I’ve had to take it to the shop a couple of times, but not until the last six months. The fuel pump failed, and my motor mounts needed replacement. I did hit a curb at speed once, knocking out the shifting linkage, which I had repaired in 2021.

      When I took it in, the shop mentioned I must be one of the lucky ones since