Dodge Dart Recalled for Rollaway Risk
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is recalling 298,439 Dodge Dart sedans from the model years 2013-2016. A problem with the gear selector could lead to the vehicle rolling away even if drivers think they've shifted into Park, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A faulty part that connects the vehicle’s transmission to the gear selector can fail. If that happens, the driver will still be able to move the selector, but the transmission will not actually change gears. As a result, the vehicle may actually stay in Drive, Reverse, or Neutral, even if the driver shifted the selector into Park.
If this failure occurs, drivers may notice that the gear selector moves more easily than usual, FCA says. Additionally, both the instrument cluster and the display next to the shifter will display which gear the car is actually in. If the driver attempts to exit the car when it is not in Park, the vehicle will sound a warning chime and display a “door ajar” message on the instrument cluster.
Only vehicles with six-speed automatic transmissions are affected by the recall. FCA says it is unaware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue, and says that drivers of the affected vehicles should continue to set their parking brake before they exit the vehicle.
The Details
Vehicles recalled: 298,439 of the 2013-2016 Dodge Dart sedans with six-speed automatic transmission manufactured from Feb. 24, 2012, through Oct. 4, 2016.
The problem: A part that connects the gear selector to the transmission may fail. As a result, drivers may think they’ve put the vehicle in Park even though it’s still in Drive, Reverse, or Neutral. If this happens, the vehicle could be at risk of rolling away.
The fix: Dealers will replace the faulty part free of charge to owners.
How to contact the manufacturer: FCA said it would begin notifying owners on or about May 31, 2019. Owners can also contact FCA at 800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign number: 19V293. FCA’s own number for this recall is V34.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend that owners check back regularly to see whether their vehicle has had a recall issued.
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