Stellantis has recalled nearly 300,000 Dodge Dart sedans in the United States after it discovered a defect in the park function that could lead to cars rolling away unexpectedly. The recall affects certain vehicles from the 2013 to 2016 model years and is the result of a faulty shifter cable that can become disconnected from the transmission, which prevents drivers from properly shifting the vehicle into Park.
Scope of the recall
The recall covers 298,439 Dodge Dart vehicles sold in the United States for the 2013-2016 model years. Stellantis initiated this due to an estimated defect rate of about 2 percent, or about 5,969 vehicles, in which the shifter cable can become disconnected from the transmission. No other Dodge or Stellantis brands are included in this campaign.
Defect details
At the base of this recall lies a shifter cable that has the potential to detach from its mounting clip on the transmission. When this occurs, the cable has the potential to interfere with the shift lever’s complete travel into the Park position. As such, a driver that believes their vehicle is secured in place may exit the car, only to have it roll away in the event that the parking pawl fails to engage. This inadvertent rolling is a significant collision hazard, particularly on inclines or in crowded areas.
Potential safety implications
A vehicle rollaway can lead to injuries of pedestrians, property damage, or collision with other vehicles. Although Stellantis reports no accidents or injuries known to be caused by this specific defect, the injury potential is serious enough to warrant a full recall.
Previous recall and recurrence
This is not the first recall of the previous-generation Dodge Dart for a related issue. In April 2019, Stellantis (then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) initiated a recall — campaign number 19V293000 — to repair shifter cable separations that prevented some 2013–2016 Darts from shifting out of Park. Though remedied under that previous repair, owner complaints of cable separation continued, prompting this follow-up measure.
Owner notification and remedy timeline
Stellantis will mail interim notification letters to the owners of the recalled vehicles starting November 6, 2025. The letters will explain the nature of the safety issue and tell owners to wait for a subsequent letter once a permanent remedy has been created and approved by the NHTSA. Dealers will receive instructions for installing the new design of the shifter cable, which will have a secure attachment to the transmission.
Owners who are impacted can contact Stellantis customer service at 800-853-1403 and refer to recall number A0C. The NHTSA’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 and its VIN lookup tool on the NHTSA website also offer recall status questions and additional information.
What owners should do now
Until the remedy is available, owners are advised to use caution:
- Always fully engage the parking brake when parking on any incline or downhill.
- After shifting into Park, attempt to move the vehicle forward slightly without releasing the parking brake to ensure the transmission is engaged.
- Park with the front wheels turned toward the curb when parking on slopes to minimize rollaway risk.
Owners who experience difficulty shifting into Park, or who notice any shift lever looseness, should not leave the vehicle unattended and should contact a Stellantis dealer immediately for an inspection.
Industry context and Stellantis response
Stellantis has placed a priority on customer safety and compliance with federal rules. The recall follows other 2025 safety campaigns, including the recall of over 63,000 Jeep Cherokees earlier this year because of power-loss issues with the parking feature. In a separate move, Stellantis detailed a record $13 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing footprint, which is expected to create 5,000 jobs across several states.
The recall of nearly 300,000 Dodge Dart vehicles underscores the paramount importance of secure transmission-shift component design and the ongoing vigilance required to ensure driver safety. Owners of 2013–2016 Dodge Darts should wait for official recall notices and follow interim safety measures to prevent unintentional rollaways until a permanent fix is available. Prompt response and dealer coordination will be most important in minimizing risk and restoring full parking functionality.
