Federal safety regulators have opened an investigation into a defect reported in the Dodge Dart following a volume of complaints that met the threshold for a formal inquiry into whether a safety-related defect exists across the affected model range.
The Dart was produced from 2013 through 2016, positioning it as a relatively recent compact car with a substantial number of surviving examples still on the road in daily use. Defects that affect this volume of vehicles warrant regulatory attention regardless of the car’s age.
NHTSA’s preliminary investigation will examine the nature and frequency of the reported defect, assess whether it poses a safety risk, and determine whether the complaints reflect a pattern attributable to a design or manufacturing issue rather than individual maintenance failures.
If the investigation determines a safety defect exists, regulators can compel a recall that would require Stellantis to repair affected vehicles at no cost to owners. The company has an opportunity to contest findings or propose alternative remedies during the process.
Dart owners who have experienced issues relevant to the investigation are encouraged to file complaints through NHTSA’s online portal, as complaint volume directly influences regulatory prioritization.