2015 Dodge Dart powertrain problems

The shifter cable bushing on the transmission end deteriorates, loosens, or detaches from the transmission, preventing gear engagement or causing the vehicle to remain stuck in park, neutral, or another gear despite shifter movement.

When: Various mileages: 31,250 to 165,000 miles; some occur shortly after purchase or within months of ownership.

Symptoms owners cite: Shifter moves but vehicle remains in park or previous gear; Vehicle rolls backward when parked in park; Inability to shift into drive from park; Key stuck in ignition when transmission is in neutral; Dashboard gear indicator does not match shifter position; Shifter feels detached or lacks resistance

Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacement cost of $500–$700+. One owner purchased a $35 Amazon bushing repair kit. Some dealers quote $500+ for shift cable replacement. Parts repeatedly unavailable through dealership channels.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V-293 (V34) issued; remedy marked 'unavailable' for extended period (months to years). Owners report dealerships stating no fix date or parts unavailable. Some owners offered temporary remedies requiring out-of-pocket diagnostics and labor, with promised reimbursement contingent on diagnosis confirming recall defect.

Hydraulic clutch components fail prematurely, causing the clutch pedal to stick to the floor, lose pressure, or fail to disengage gears. Master cylinder loses fluid or develops internal leaks; slave cylinder fails.

When: Low mileage: 18,700 to 59,000+ miles. Some failures occur twice in short intervals (e.g., 10 months apart at 18,700 miles).

Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal stuck to floor or remains depressed after release; Clutch pedal requires manual lifting to return to normal position; Clutch slipping in first gear despite full pedal engagement; Unable to shift gears due to loss of pedal pressure; Vehicle lurches or stalls on engagement; Burning clutch smell during shifts

Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement performed under warranty in one case. Dealerships quote $2,000 for clutch kit, throw-out bearing, and flywheel replacement. Owners report recurring failure even after repair, with dealerships stating parts are defective and will fail again regardless of driving habits. One owner's clutch bearing allegedly 'exploded like a grenade,' damaging transmission.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler X62 extended warranty campaign mentioned; however, clutch bearing and non-fractured slave cylinders often excluded. Owners reference pending class-action lawsuits (e.g., Case S1406000001). One dealership suggested floor mat interference rather than investigating known defect.

TCM mounting bracket deteriorates or loosens, causing intermittent communication loss between TCM, PCM, ABS, ESM, BCM, and IPC modules. Vehicle exhibits no-start condition, limp mode, or popping into neutral.

When: Intermittent; can occur within 2 months of ownership or after several days of trouble-free operation.

Symptoms owners cite: No communication with TCM; multiple modules report communication codes (U0101, U11C2); Active stability control light illuminates; Vehicle pops into neutral abruptly, jarring occupants; Vehicle fails to start after stalling; Problems worsen or recur after clearing codes or replacing connectors; Issue occurs mainly when passenger sits in vehicle (TCM located on passenger floor)

Codes mentioned: U0101 (PCM, ABS, ESM, BCM, IPC, RFH), U11C2 (PCM)

Repairs/costs cited: One 10-year mechanic owner replaced alternator, replaced all star connectors ($cost not specified). Issue persists intermittently. No permanent fix documented in narratives.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall identified for TCM bracket (2013–2015 Darts); owner notes recall is engine-specific but all engines (1.4, 2.0, 2.4) use the same TCM and bracket. Owner unable to access dealership due to cost.

Automatic transmission fails to shift properly, engages neutral unexpectedly while driving, slips under acceleration, or shifts harshly. Vehicle may stall or lose motive power mid-drive.

When: 35 MPH to 70 MPH driving speeds; one instance at 55 MPH highway driving. Failures range from 43,000 to 150,000 miles.

Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts hard with loud noise; Unexpected shift to neutral while accelerating; Vehicle stalls during acceleration from stop; RPMs rev but vehicle does not accelerate ('slipping' sensation); Transmission loses power; vehicle coasts to side of road; Check engine light illuminates; 'Service Transmission' or 'Transmission Hot' warnings appear; Vehicle lurches or jerks during shifts

Repairs/costs cited: Las Vegas dealer diagnosed transmission requiring replacement; repair performed but failure recurred. Another mechanic determined pressure plate needed replacement. One owner's transmission was found to have no oil. Owners report costs and parts availability unclear.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA 15V542000 cited by some owners; however, VINs often not included in recall coverage. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall remedy in multiple cases.

Clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, release bearing, or throw-out bearing fail prematurely, causing loss of drive, grinding noises, or inability to shift. Owners report components deteriorate despite low mileage and normal driving.

When: Occurs between 100,000 and 140,000 miles, though one narrative suggests defects affect vehicles earlier.

Symptoms owners cite: Elevated RPMs but loss of motive power (vehicle 'goes nowhere'); Grinding or knocking noise from engine; Clutch slips on acceleration; Inability to shift into or out of gears; Repeated failure after repair of one component

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quote: $2,000 for clutch, throw-out bearing, and flywheel replacement. Owners report manufacturer does not offer replacement parts for some components. One mechanic stated repair would only be 'band-aid' because defect is inherent to Dart design and parts will fail again.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denial of assistance. Class-action litigation and lemon law actions noted by owners.

Engine consumes oil rapidly without warning lights. Oil reservoir drops critically low between services, leading to stalling, loss of power steering, and frozen brake pedal during operation.

When: Low mileage (40,000 miles) to higher (100,000+). Stalls occur unexpectedly while backing out of driveway, turning at intersections, or during acceleration.

Symptoms owners cite: No oil warning light despite critically low oil level; Engine stalls without warning; Battery light illuminates; music continues but engine dies; Power steering freezes when engine stalls; Brake pedal becomes immobile; Oil level drops below dipstick minimum shortly after service

Repairs/costs cited: Owners perform oil consumption testing at dealership with no solution offered; repeated oil top-ups do not resolve issue. One owner's oil reservoir was completely empty; independent mechanic and passerby discovered it.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA 15V542000 mentioned by one owner; however, no remedial action documented. Dealership offers only oil consumption testing.

Brake booster failure, brake fluid loss without warning lights, and alternator failure. Brake master cylinder drops below minimum without indicator illumination.

When: One incident on New Year's Eve at 45 MPH; highway incident at 70 MPH. Another narrative: low fluid present during normal operation.

Symptoms owners cite: Brakes fail to slow vehicle at highway speed; Brake booster fails; Brake fluid reservoir empty or critically low with no warning light; Alternator fails, causing no-start condition; Vehicle coasts without responding to brake application

Repairs/costs cited: One owner spent $500+ to repair brake issues. Brake booster replacement cost not specified.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.

Dealership service visit introduces improper fluid (automatic transmission fluid instead of engine oil) or contaminates engine oil, causing new engine noises and risk of damage.

When: April 16, 2026 recall service visit; new symptoms appeared April 17–18.

Symptoms owners cite: Strong burning smell after service (dealership attributed to recall work); New clinking engine noise appearing post-service; Red fluid consistent with transmission fluid found in crankcase instead of engine oil; Dark oil removed only two days after first oil change

Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic observed transmission fluid in engine. Second oil change performed by dealership. Dealership denied wrongdoing and claimed vehicle arrived in that condition.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership refused responsibility, denied ownership of issue, and refused to provide service records.

Key becomes stuck in ignition switch and cannot be removed. Vehicle often remains in neutral or park, preventing normal start/stop operation.

When: Occurs after transmission failures or independent of other faults; one instance post-recall service (19V-293).

Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition; cannot be turned or removed; Vehicle remains in neutral despite shifter movement; Engine running but key cannot be extracted

Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis suggests powertrain control module or ignition switch replacement needed. Costs not specified by owners.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA 25V674000 (Powertrain) issued; parts for recall repair unavailable. Dealership diagnosis and repair attempted in one case; failure recurred post-repair.

Vehicle idles rough at elevated RPM (2,000 RPM in park vs. normal 900 RPM or less), stalls during acceleration or rolling stops, and exhibits harsh or inconsistent idle. Engine knocking and cold-weather grinding noises reported.

When: Occurs from early ownership and persists. One narrative mentions 52,000 miles with issue starting one month prior.

Symptoms owners cite: Idle RPM elevated and rough; Vehicle stalls from rolling stops to acceleration without warning light; Knocking or grinding sound in cold weather; Engine shuts off when idle drops below 500 RPM; Harsh idle; vehicle sounds 'like a tractor trailer'; Stalls at traffic lights or during turns

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed reflash to address harsh idle, choke, and knock; problems persisted post-reflash. One mechanic suggested engine mount issues and rear-end problem.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated idle issue is 'normal' and performed reflash with no resolution.

Tires wear prematurely (replacement needed every 10,000 miles at 26,000 miles total) and bulge early. Whirling noise and rear-end/engine mount concerns noted.

When: Early ownership; bulge at approximately 70,000 miles for one component (CV axle).

Symptoms owners cite: Rapid tire wear despite normal driving; Tire bulges appearing early in tire life; Whirling sound from vehicle; Instability over bumps; Popping noise from CV axle area

Repairs/costs cited: Right CV axle replacement covered by warranty. Tire replacement costs borne by owner. Dealership offered no explanation; one mechanic suggested rear-end and engine mount issues.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attributed tire wear to owner's driving habits; owner comparison (Camaro with aggressive driving lasted 50,000 miles before first tire replacement) contradicts this claim.