MIL/check engine lamp comes on after performing U90 recall PCM software update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Dodge Dart powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Dodge Dart have filed 119 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 59,700 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
119
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Dart | 486 |
| 2014 Dart (this page) | 119 |
| 2015 Dart | 159 |
| 2016 Dart | 71 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 119 powertrain complaints filed for the 2014 Dodge Dart, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 33% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 119 powertrain 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 powertrain 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.
Fiat C-635 Dual Dry Clutch (DDCT) Automatic Transmission Fluid Fill The Fiat C-635 DDCT and C-633 DDCT are shipped without fluid. Fill per DealerConnect procedure: "draining, filling and level check"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Customer Satisfaction Notification W20 Reprogram Powertrain Control Module
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Powertrain Control Module.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Customer Satisfaction Notification W20 Reprogram Powertrain Control Module
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Dodge Dart's powertrain is beset by a cluster of interrelated failures. The most common and notorious is the transmission shift cable bushing detachment—subject to recall 19V293000 since April 2019—where the shifter cable simply comes loose from the transmission, leaving the vehicle unable to select gears. Owners find themselves stuck in reverse or drive, unable to remove the key or move the shifter, often stranded. Chrysler's parts remain on indefinite backorder, and some dealerships still claim the recall has no "remedy" available.
Engine stalls are a second recurring hazard: the car shuts down completely at highway speeds with no warning, all electronics going dark, steering wheel locking, and the vehicle coasting helpless. Mechanics find no codes and cannot reproduce the failure, leaving owners out cash for diagnosis and battery replacements.
Oil consumption is a third systemic issue. The 2.4L engine burns through oil at rates of 1 quart per 750–1,000 miles, draining the 5.5-quart reservoir before scheduled service intervals end. Dealerships call this "acceptable," but it forces owners to add oil constantly and creates stall hazards when levels run dry without warning.
Manual transmission owners face clutch master cylinder failures: the pedal sticks to the floor, loses pressure, or fails to engage. Even after $2,000+ repairs and OEM part replacement, the same failure recurs within months or years. Clutch cable and shifter cable failures also confound troubleshooting, with some vehicles still not shifting properly after recall work. Throughout, owners describe cost-intensive repairs, unavailable parts, and a lack of accountability from the manufacturer.
Same Dodge Dart powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Failure / Shifter Cable Detachment
The shift cable bushing disconnects or detaches from the transmission, rendering the shifter unable to select gears. The vehicle becomes stuck in one gear (often reverse or drive), the shifter moves freely without engaging gears, or the car cannot shift out of park. This is the subject of NHTSA recall 19V293000 (V34), but owners report parts remain unavailable months after recall initiation, and some dealers deny coverage even when the VIN matches the recall.
When: April 2019 onward; some cars affected at under 50,000 miles; occurs during normal driving and parking
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter moves freely without engaging any gear; Vehicle stuck in one gear (reverse, drive, or park); Unable to take key out of ignition when shifter position is not recognized as park; Engine light illuminates; PRND lights glow red; Display shows incorrect gear or flashes warning to shift into neutral/drive/reverse; Grinding or clicking sounds when attempting to shift; Complete loss of forward/reverse motion
Codes mentioned: P0705-00 (transmission control module failure), P1C86-92 (PRNDL Display Circuit Current Out Of Range), B1578-2B (antenna-related, secondary)
Repairs/costs cited: OEM parts (shifter cable bushing, transmission shifter assembly) reportedly unavailable for extended periods; Firestone and dealer shops quote $500+ for shifter cable replacement; full transmission replacement in some cases when recall work triggers electrical failures; some owners paid out-of-pocket before recall notice arrived and were denied reimbursement by Chrysler.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 19V293000 (V34) issued April 2019; parts on backorder for months or unavailable at all dealerships; Chrysler initially stated no remedy available; later said parts would be ordered; some owners never received official notification; dealerships informed customers recall repair had no established timeline or remedy; some 2024 reports state parts still unavailable nationwide.
Engine Stall / Complete Power Loss While Driving
Engine shuts down completely while vehicle is in motion (highway, interstate, parking lot) without warning. All electronics go dark (dashboard, displays, steering wheel locks). Vehicle cannot be restarted immediately and may require jump-starting, battery reset, or extended waiting. Occurs intermittently and unpredictably; mechanics often cannot reproduce the issue and find no diagnostic codes.
When: Reported from 2-3 years of ownership onward; speeds ranging 25–75 mph; one incident at 3 years and 48,000 miles; multiple recurring episodes within days or months
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off completely while driving; All dashboard displays and electronics go dark; Steering wheel locks; loss of power steering; Vehicle coasts to shoulder or has to be towed; Cannot restart vehicle; requires jump start or extended waiting (hours); Battery and alternator test normal, yet failures recur; No warning lights before failure; Dealerships unable to find codes or reproduce the problem
Repairs/costs cited: Owners purchased new batteries and had alternators tested (both passed); dealerships ran diagnostics with no codes found; one vehicle required tow to dealership multiple times; estimated cost of diagnosis and parts unknown because issue often cannot be diagnosed; owner spent on battery ($100+) and towing without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for this failure; Chrysler warranty still in effect on some vehicles but dealerships could not diagnose or fix the issue; case opened with Chrysler Corporation with no resolution; owner referred to Roadside Assistance for documentation only.
Key Fob / Ignition Lock - Key Stuck in Ignition
Key fob cannot release from ignition; vehicle is perceived by electronics as remaining in Accessory mode rather than Park, preventing key removal. Workarounds include turning the wheel, adjusting the shifter, toggling between gears, or pressing the brake repeatedly. Issue is intermittent but increasingly frequent.
When: Reported from early ownership; some cases 5–30 minutes per occurrence; happens intermittently then stops for days, then recurs
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob stuck in ignition and cannot be removed; Vehicle electronics think car is in Accessory mode, not Park; Requires multiple attempts (5–30 minutes) of shifting, steering wheel adjustments, brake pedal presses, or toggling ignition to release key; Engine light may illuminate; Transmission may slip from drive to neutral while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced new key fobs ($200+ in one case) with no resolution; dealerships replaced ignition switch without success; one shop reprogrammed the ignition switch at dealership with no permanent fix; root cause identified as gear shifter cable issue not fully resolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall specifically for key release issue; related to V34 shifter cable recall but no dedicated remedy offered; dealership diagnostics inconclusive.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Engine Starvation
Engine burns or leaks oil at an abnormally rapid rate. Owners report consuming 1 quart per 750–1,000 miles, which exhausts the ~5.5-quart capacity before the next scheduled oil change interval (6,000–10,000 miles). When oil level drops too low, the engine triggers a safety shutdown. Owner reports aluminum piston design and poor gasket sealing as suspected causes. Dealership claims this consumption is within acceptable limits.
When: Starting at 3,000 miles in some cases; reported from early ownership through years 2–3 of driving; one vehicle at 43,000 miles; continues throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Dipstick shows no oil or critically low level before scheduled oil change; Engine shuts off due to low-oil safety cutout; Oil pooling underneath engine (suspected); Engine sputtering on acceleration; Smell of burning oil; No low-oil warning light illuminates until failure is imminent
Repairs/costs cited: Owners changed oil more frequently (every 3,000 miles instead of 6,000–10,000); purchased additional quarts of 0W20 synthetic oil ($9/qt); one full engine replacement due to piston scoring; oil consumption test performed by dealership confirmed loss of ~0.5 quart per 1,000 miles; dealership deemed this 'acceptable.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge's written guideline states 1 quart per 750 miles is acceptable for the 2.4L engine; no recall issued; no extended warranty offered; owner advised to change oil more frequently; one partial engine solution via warranty update in latter years.
Clutch Master Cylinder / Clutch Pedal Failure (Manual Transmission)
Clutch master cylinder and associated hydraulic components fail, causing the clutch pedal to stick to the floor, lose pressure, or become unresponsive. Clutch may stick halfway or fully to the floor, making shifting impossible or causing the car to move unintentionally when started. Failure recurs even after OEM parts replacement.
When: Reported at 20,000–57,000 miles; July 2015 first repair; recurrence in March 2017; subsequent failures in 2019 and 2023; cold weather exacerbates sticking
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal drops or sticks to the floor; Clutch loses engagement pressure; must press fully to shift; Clutch sticks halfway in cold weather; Inability to shift into any gear; Engine stalls when clutch engaged with car started; Poor clutch engagement even after hydraulic repair; Loud clunking or whining from transmission when clutch engaged/disengaged; Burning smell from clutch friction
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch master cylinder replaced; clutch kit replaced; reservoir replaced; costs cited: $2,000+ for master cylinder, reservoir, and clutch kit; TSB X62 invoked for warranty coverage in one case; independent mechanics unable to fix issue; dealership replaced parts with OEM units, which failed again; replacement parts unavailable in marketplace; one owner paid $6,100 for clutch and transmission replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB X62 warranty program exists; repairs provided for some customers (including rental car during repair); warranty period on initial repair expired after 4 months, denying coverage for subsequent failure; vehicle not covered by recall; manufacturer did not provide buyback.
Transmission Shifts Erratically / Slips into Neutral Unexpectedly
While driving, transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral, losing all forward motion. Shifter position does not match actual gear. Vehicle must be re-engaged by shifting to reverse, then neutral, then back to drive. This is a recurring hazard on highways and city streets. Distinct from the shift cable bushing failure—some vehicles have this issue after cable repair.
When: Reported from 6 months to 2+ years of ownership; speeds from 25 to 75 mph; can happen immediately after starting or during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly shifts into neutral while accelerating or cruising; Loss of engine power; car coasts; Shifter position on display does not match actual gear selected; Check engine light illuminates; Red PRND warning lights glow; Rough, jerky shifting when vehicle does re-engage; Engine hesitates or sputters for 5 seconds after re-engaging; Transmission control module codes present
Codes mentioned: P0705 (transmission control module malfunction), Transmission range sensor electrical circuit fault
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission control module and mounting bracket replaced (under recall 15V542000 in Canada; U.S. coverage unclear); full transmission replacement in some cases following module swap; costs not disclosed in most narratives; one owner cited $2,000+ estimate; dealership diagnostics inconsistent.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 15V542000 exists but applies to Canada; some U.S. VINs not included despite matching year/model; recall 19V293000 (V34 shifter cable) issued but may not resolve this specific failure; some owners told VIN not covered even when recall applies.
Transmission Control Module (TCM) and Electrical System Failures
Transmission control module fails or becomes corrupted. Attempts to replace the module trigger cascade failures: vehicle loses all electrical power, battery drains, starter fails, or entire transmission must be replaced. Dealerships work with Chrysler but lack parts and encounter repeated failures during recall repairs.
When: Reported July 2019 onward; discovered during recall repair attempts; recall repair was initiated but parts on backorder
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission light illuminates; Vehicle won't start after module replacement attempted; Entire electrical system 'fried' (no power); New module installed but vehicle fails to start; Replaced module does not function; another module required; No power to dash, lights, or starter; Battery drains completely
Codes mentioned: Transmission module recall code
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission module replaced; replacement module did not work; Chrysler sent a second module (also failed); Chrysler then sent entire new transmission; repair timeline: parts on order (1–2 weeks), then electrical issue discovered (lead tech consulted), second module arrived and failed, entire transmission ordered and arrived; total shop time: 27 days; vehicle finally returned but then developed slipping at various speeds.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair initiated; Chrysler worked with dealership to order replacement parts; refused additional warranty coverage; no buyback offered; case referred to NHTSA when problems arose.
Brakes Not Working Properly / Brake Fluid Issues
Brakes lose effectiveness; brake warning light may illuminate or brakes may fail suddenly with no warning. Owner reports brake fluid contamination or degradation. One owner's vehicle was not included in a brake recall despite experiencing the same failure as recalled vehicles.
When: Reported from early ownership; one case total brake failure without warning; repair cost $2,000
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lose effectiveness; Brake warning light illuminates (or absent until failure); Complete brake failure while driving; No warning signs before failure; Brake fluid contaminated or 'messed up' (per dealership)
Repairs/costs cited: $2,000 repair cited for brake system; exact parts not specified; owner believes the repair was related to a brake recall but their VIN was excluded from the recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner's 2014 Dart excluded from brake recall affecting 2013–2014 models despite identical failure; no remedy offered.
Fuel Door / Gas Cap Release Motor Defect
Electronic motor that releases the fuel door cap is stripped or defective. Pressing the button makes a loud grinding noise and does not reliably open the cap. Cap can fall off the vehicle. Motor stripped or gears damaged.
When: Reported in 2014 model; timing not specified; issue ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Pressing fuel door button makes loud grinding/whining noise; Noise continues for the entire duration of button press; Fuel cap may not open; Fuel cap can fall off car while driving; Motor appears stripped or gears damaged
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted or cost cited; owner reports Dodge stated no recall exists for this defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge stated no recall; repair apparently out-of-pocket.
Window Fogging / Interior Condensation
Front windows fog up from the inside during cold weather with no apparent cause. Condensation accumulates inside the cabin.
When: Reported during colder months
Symptoms owners cite: Interior window fogging in cold weather; No explanation from dealership diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: No repair or diagnosis provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership offered no explanation; no recall or warranty service mentioned.
Synthesized from 119 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
As I read the above comments/complaints on the 2014 Dodge Dart, I have realized that we all are having the same issues with the recall, the car not engaging in park, and the Keyfob not working properly where it takes from 5-30 minutes to turn the car off because it is still in the acc mode. Now the car has started yet ANOTHER problem that it doesn’t want to start. I paid for a tow to the repair…
Car not running properly or even functioning due to an issue with the body control module. Running rough, screen to GPS blacking out. No ability to even turn the heat off/on when malfunctioning. These are all things that occur either when idling or the car is in motion.
My engine is still shutting off randomly and they told me that there is a recall on my powertrain and all they did was reprogram it even though that is not helping my car it’s still shutting off or trying to shut off
In October I brought my car in due to my car not correctly going into park. It almost fully gave out the time the recall started for dodge darts gear shifter, though there were times my car wouldn’t go into park and release the key months before. The shop ran codes that mentioned the ignition switch. They replaced the ignition switch hoping that’d fix the problem, but it didn’t. They brought it…
Check engine light will flash while simultaneously the gear selections lights all glow red. Stability indicator signals loss as well as extremely rough shifting. Loss of reverse camera, moon roof, loss of auto windows both up and down, as well as practically all forward motion as if the transmission has suddenly stopped working. Once stopped safely and vehicle has been disabled I.t will not…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2014 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 powertrain problem on the 2014 Dodge Dart?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 119 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 77 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 35,360 and 83,420 miles, with the median around 59,700. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,360; a quarter make it past 83,420. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2014/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.