The Dodge Dart is a midsize car built from 2013 to 2016 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Dart is
The Dodge Dart is a midsize car that Dodge built from 2013 to 2016 — 4 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2013. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Challenger, Avenger, Stratus.
Where the Dart is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,113 Darts on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1C3 | 2012-2016 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Dart belongs to. What every character in a Dart VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Dart adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Dart generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Dart's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Dart that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-1972 | 498 cm | 282 cm | 1349 kg | - | - |
| 1973-1976 | 518 cm | 282 cm | 1365 kg | +20 cm | +16 kg |
| 2013-2017 | 468 cm | 271 cm | 1471 kg | -50 cm | +106 kg |
Between 1971 and 2017 the Dart gained -30 cm in length (-6.0%) and 122 kg in weight (+9.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Dart that is 122 kg against -30 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Dart tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Dart owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Dart have? Power & range
The Dodge Dart is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Dodge Dart, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Dart by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Dart. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Dart | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 16 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,312 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,927/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 515 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Dart?
The Dart is a midsize car, built from 2013 to 2016 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Dodge Dart made?
Across 2,113 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Dart have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2013. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Dodge Dart warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Dart reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Dart?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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