Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Dodge Dart steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Dodge Dart have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Dart | 39 |
| 2014 Dart | 19 |
| 2015 Dart | 34 |
| 2016 Dart (this page) | 10 |
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Dodge Dart, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Of the 4 model years of Dodge Dart we track for steering problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (10).
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Dodge Darts describe a pattern of electrical and steering system failures that dealerships struggle to diagnose. Power steering shuts down or loses assist suddenly, sometimes multiple times in succession, leaving the steering wheel stiff and difficult to turn. One owner experienced this happen at a complete stop while parked; others had it occur mid-turn at highway speed. Steering also locks up or seizes without warning in some cases.
Electrical gremlins are pervasive. Dashboard lights, headlights, and navigation screens flicker randomly or shut off entirely. When multiple electrical loads run simultaneously—air conditioning, headlights, and Bluetooth—the system overloads and the engine shuts down. Brake systems intermittently lose assist despite functioning normally when tested, accompanied by ABS, traction control, and engine warning lights. One owner had a near-collision on a downhill grade when brakes failed to stop the vehicle.
The core problem: diagnostic codes clear themselves, preventing dealers from pinpointing root causes. One owner was quoted $230 just to run diagnostics, and dealerships have told owners their electronic modules won't communicate with diagnostic equipment. Front-end suspension noise (popping and snapping) recurs after repair shops replace strut mounts and tie rods. Shift linkage bushing failures occur even in low-mileage examples, despite a 2019 recall supposedly addressing the issue.
Same Dodge Dart steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Electrical Shutdown
Power steering loses assist or shuts down temporarily due to electrical faults, often accompanied by 'Service Power Steering' warning lights. Resets can occur multiple times in succession, lasting 5-8 seconds or longer, making steering extremely stiff. Can happen at random with no clear trigger—even while parked with engine running. Owners report difficulty steering through turns and during low-speed maneuvers.
When: Random; no mileage or timing pattern identified
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering temporarily loses assist; Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff; Lights on dashboard flicker on/off during resets; Multiple resets occur in succession; Engine and navigation systems may reset; Occurs during turns, low-speed stops, or at complete rest
Codes mentioned: Service Power Steering, Service Electronic Braking System
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships report diagnostic codes clear themselves, preventing diagnosis. One owner mentions electronic steering box replacement as a dealer-suggested fix.
Electronic Module Communication Failure
Electronic control modules fail to communicate with diagnostic equipment after electrical events such as battery replacement or power loss. Dealerships report inability to reprogram modules without expensive diagnostics. This leads to persistent power steering and electrical system faults that prevent proper troubleshooting.
When: After battery replacement or electrical events
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering light comes on after electrical work; Steering wheel becomes stiff; Module does not communicate with dealership diagnostic tools
Codes mentioned: Power Steering
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership quoted $230 diagnostic fee to identify root cause but was unable to reprogram module due to communication failure.
Electrical System Overload and Shutdown
Vehicle electrical system overloads when multiple components draw power simultaneously (air conditioning, headlights, Bluetooth), causing dashboard and headlight flicker followed by complete engine shutdown. After restart, systems come back online temporarily but electrical instability persists.
When: When running multiple electrical loads simultaneously
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights flicker; Headlights flicker; Engine stalls without warning; Vehicle shuts down while driving; Cannot operate air, headlights, and Bluetooth at same time without shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports car shut down on main street while family was in vehicle; restart allowed continued driving.
Steering Lockup and Seizing
Steering wheel locks up or seizes suddenly while driving, requiring immediate correction by owner. One owner experienced complete steering seizure at highway speed (60 mph) with simultaneous engine stall. Electronic steering box replacement has been suggested as remedy.
When: At highway speeds and during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or seizes without warning; Steering jerks in either direction; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn; Simultaneous engine stall may occur
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended electronic steering box replacement after being unable to diagnose on first two visits.
Brake System Electrical Faults and Loss of Assist
Brakes lose effectiveness or fail to slow vehicle despite pedal being pressed. ABS system malfunctions intermittently. Multiple warning lights appear (ABS, engine, traction control, battery) but braking system may function normally when tested. Failures occur both on highway and city streets at random intervals while vehicle is in motion.
When: Random during driving; occurs over time
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes fail to slow or stop vehicle; ABS light comes on and off; Engine light comes on; Traction control light comes on; Battery light comes on; Brakes feel hard to push and reluctant to stop; Steering becomes harder as vehicle slows or stops
Codes mentioned: ABS, Engine, Traction Control, Battery
Repairs/costs cited: Lights are cleared at dealership but come back on immediately after leaving. One near-collision reported when vehicle failed to stop on downhill grade.
Front-End Suspension Noise and Joint Failure
Popping or snapping sounds come from front end when turning and accelerating. Multiple shop visits have resulted in strut mount and tie rod replacement, but noise returns within days to weeks. After comprehensive retorqueing of all front-end fasteners, noise still returns, suggesting deeper structural or alignment issue.
When: When putting car into gear, turning wheel, and starting to move
Symptoms owners cite: Popping sound from front end; Snapping sound from front end; Noise occurs during turns and acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: First repair: front strut mounts replaced; noise returned after 6 months. Second repair: tie rod replaced; noise returned within 1 week. Third visit: all front-end fasteners retorqued; noise returned within days.
Shift Linkage Bushing Failure
Shift linkage bushing fails prematurely, leaving car stuck in gear with shifter unresponsive. A 2019 recall addressed this issue, but owners report it has recurred in low-mileage vehicles, suggesting the recall fix was inadequate. Renders vehicle inoperable; key cannot be removed and car cannot be restarted.
When: Under 55,000 miles on vehicles less than 10 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Car becomes stuck in gear; Shifter does not respond; Key cannot be removed; Vehicle inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Previous recall in 2019 for same issue; owner purchased vehicle one year prior to failure (Oct 2024) from Honda dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued in 2019 for shift linkage bushing failure
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Anti-lock brake system service light comes on and off as well as the traction control light. The antilock brake system is not working at all and skid control doesn't work either. Brakes are hard to push often and vehicle is more and more reluctant to stop. The vehicle is always in motion. Stearing is harder when the vehicle slows or stops also. The issue began at the same time as the antilock…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Dodge Dart?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 47,620 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2016/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.