Cold Temperature Squeak/Creak Noise While Turning The Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying Nye® lubricant to the front strut mounts. Customer may describe a creak or squeak noise while turning the steering wheel. Noise is typically more noticeable during cold temperatures below 4°C (40°F), noise may go away when temperature warms up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Dodge Dart steering problems
severe 39 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
39
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Dodge Dart we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 39.
Owners have filed 39 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Cold Temperature Squeak/Creak Noise While Turning The Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying Nye® lubricant to the front strut mounts. Customer may describe a creak or squeak noise while turning the steering wheel. Noise is typically more noticeable during cold temperatures below 4°C (40°F), noise may go away when temperature warms up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Cold Temperature Squeak/Creak Noise While Turning The Steering Wheel This bulletin involves applying Nye® lubricant to the front strut mounts. Customer may describe a creak or squeak noise while turning the steering wheel. Noise is typically more noticeable during cold temperatures below 4°C (40°F), noise may go away when temperature warms up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Steering Wheel Vibration At Highway Speeds On Smooth Road This bulletin involves road testing and updating the software in the Electric Power Steering (EPS). If required road force balancing and match mounting the tires and wheels. NOT be mistaken for a normal tire vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel or at low speeds.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Steering Wheel Vibration At Highway Speeds On Smooth Road This bulletin involves road testing and updating the software in the Electric Power Steering (EPS). If required road force balancing and match mounting the tires and wheels. NOT be mistaken for a normal tire vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel or at low speeds.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering systems on these Darts fail in multiple ways. The most dangerous are complete power steering failures—drivers report the steering wheel locking solid while moving at highway speed (65–70 mph), forcing them to wrench hard on the wheel or accept loss of control. Battery warning lights often precede cascading electrical collapse: dash goes dark, radio blares loudly, brakes stiffen, transmission freezes. Dealerships have spent 92 days rewiring electrical systems, only to see the same failures return.
Lower control arm bolts have come loose or snapped at very low mileage (400–700 miles on new cars), hurling the steering wheel violently sideways with grinding noises. One driver's wheel turned 90 degrees sideways and disengaged entirely.
Intermittent steering lock-up—where the wheel seizes when turning right, forcing the driver to turn left first to unlock it—plagues multiple owners at cruise control speeds but never reproduces at the dealership. Power steering failure also happens with no warning lights, leaving drivers muscling heavy steering at 65 mph.
Shifter cables break, trapping the gear in Drive and the key in the ignition. One safety recall for this issue was delayed months with no loaner vehicle provided. Dealerships consistently report inability to diagnose steering issues on repeat visits, charging owners towing fees and proposing expensive part-by-part replacement trials rather than systematic electrical diagnosis.
Same Dodge Dart steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Lower Control Arm Breakage / Loosening
Lower control arm bolt missing, loose, or fractured at manufacturing, causing sudden loss of steering control and violent jerking of steering wheel. Occurs at very low mileage (under 1,000 miles). In one case, front driver-side control arm fractured at 700 miles after crash into curve; in another, bolt was missing at 400 miles, causing steering to jerk into oncoming traffic.
When: 400–700 miles on new vehicles; one case at 145,000 miles with pulsating steering after bump
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks violently to one side without warning; Loud grinding and noise from suspension; Loss of vehicle control; Wheel/tire disengages or turns at 90-degree angle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced lower control arm, CV axle, knuckle strut, and stabilizer bar; one owner reported missing bolt discovered by tow truck driver; another replacement needed strut mount, spring kit, adapter, and insulator
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Seizure / Loss of Power Steering
Power steering locks up, becomes unresponsive, or fails completely while driving at various speeds. Often accompanied by battery warning light, ABS warnings, and multiple electrical failures. Occurs intermittently and dealerships frequently report inability to reproduce or diagnose the issue.
When: Across the lifespan of vehicles, from early ownership to higher mileage; incidents at 12,386 miles, 13,200 miles, 23,500 miles, 35 mph, 65–75 mph highway speeds, and stationary situations
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or becomes difficult to turn; Complete loss of power steering assist; Battery warning light illuminates; Service ABS warning indicator comes on; Dashboard and radio go blank or flicker; Vehicle shaking when power steering locks; Driver must manually force steering wheel with high effort
Codes mentioned: Battery warning indicator, Service ABS warning, Power steering lock signal
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced steering rack; performed software update to EPS module; attempted sensor diagnosis but one dealer refused to check all relevant steering sensors and wanted to replace parts one at a time ($1,700 estimate for steering box replacement); another independent mechanic diagnosed faulty steering control module needing replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refused to address recurring issue in at least one case; dealership service departments consistently reported inability to diagnose or reproduce problem
Steering Wheel Sticking / Intermittent Lock-Up During Turns
Steering wheel becomes momentarily stuck or locked when attempting to turn, especially when turning right. Requires turning wheel in opposite direction first to unlock, then turning desired direction. Occurs intermittently, primarily at highway speeds with cruise control engaged, making it difficult for dealerships to reproduce.
When: Intermittent; reported at highway speeds (65–70 mph) with cruise control; can go long periods between incidents (up to 7 times over ownership period for one driver)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel feels locked when turning right; Must turn wheel left first to unlock, then can turn right; Intermittent behavior—does not occur every drive; Occurs at highway speeds with cruise control engaged
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership unable to reproduce issue at highway speeds due to company driving restrictions; no repair completed
Steering System Electrical Failure (Sensor / Module Related)
Steering control module, EPS module, or associated sensors fail, causing various steering and electrical symptoms. In some cases, a helicopter-type noise emanates from steering column. Failures trigger ABS and traction control lights.
When: At 64,000 miles and other higher mileage intervals; can occur at 50 mph while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Helicopter-type noise from steering column; ABS and traction control indicators remain illuminated; Steering column ribbon break (affects wiper functionality); Steering becomes difficult or unresponsive
Codes mentioned: ABS indicator, Traction control indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed faulty steering control module needing replacement; one dealer tightened steering fuse; steering column ribbon replacement cost approximately $500; EPS module software update and steering rack replacement attempted in one case
Power Loss / Electrical System Failure Affecting Steering
Vehicle experiences complete or partial power loss while driving, disabling power steering, brakes, transmission, and electrical systems. Often involves battery warning light followed by cascading electrical failures. Multiple shop visits and electrical rewiring attempts did not resolve recurrence.
When: Various speeds from 20–70 mph; one vehicle had 92 days in shop for electrical rewiring; incidents repeated after rewiring completed
Symptoms owners cite: Complete power loss while driving at highway speed; Steering wheel locks as if no key in ignition; Brakes become hard to apply or apply slowly; Transmission will not shift to neutral; Dashboard, radio, and other electrical functions fail; Overwhelming noise from stereo system; Multiple warning lights illuminate (battery, ABS, transmission service, etc.)
Codes mentioned: Battery warning light, Service transmission error, ABS warning
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle had electrical system completely rewired by dealership (92-day shop stay) but issue recurred; vehicle required towing; dealership unable to diagnose problem on multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refused to address issue; dealership unable to diagnose; one owner reported Chrysler wanted vehicle equipped with black box for monitoring
Steering Rack Replacement Needed
Steering rack requires replacement due to steering control difficulties or failure. In some cases, replacement was performed after software updates failed to resolve steering issues.
When: At 13,200 miles and 12,386 miles; higher mileage cases also reported
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme difficulty controlling steering; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced steering rack after software update proved ineffective; one case involved special technician diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed software update to EPS module before steering rack replacement
Shifter Cable / Gear Linkage Failure
Shifter cable breaks or gear linkage grommet fails, preventing gear shifting and key removal from ignition. Vehicle becomes immobile and unable to be shut off.
When: Occurring at various mileage points; one safety recall (shifter cable) delayed for months
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift stuck in Drive; cannot shift to Reverse or Park; Cannot remove key from ignition; Cannot turn off vehicle; Gear shift will not disengage even when battery disconnected
Repairs/costs cited: Shift linkage and grommet replaced; entire linkage replacement required in one case; mobile technician found broken gear shift cable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA safety recall issued for shifter cable (campaign referenced); repair delayed for several months at one dealership with no alternative transportation provided
Steering Column Noise / Vibration
Noise and vibration emanate from steering column or steering wheel area, sometimes accompanied by electrical issues. Vibration transmits through steering wheel to hands and chest.
When: At 50 mph; intermittently during driving; worse when air conditioning is on or during stop-and-start traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from steering column at highway speed; Vibration in steering wheel; Vibration transmits to hands and chest; Worsens with air conditioning on and increased AC fan speed
Steering Wheel Off-Center / Alignment Issues
Steering wheel is off-centered to one side immediately after purchase. Dealership performed wheel alignment but owner reported persistent steering issues afterward.
When: Immediately after purchase (within one week of owning new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel off-centered to the left; After alignment, steering wheel sticks when turning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership aligned all four wheels
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Dodge Dart?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2013 Dodge Dart?
It's a meaningful issue. 39 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 12,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 38,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Dodge/Dart.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.