Dodge Dart battery drain problems

Filed Feb 25, 2026 · Electrical · OH

​(FIX INFO BELOW) The Issue: The ignition intermittently fails to rotate to the "OFF" position, locking the key fob in the column despite the vehicle being in "Park." This is a known flaw in the Dart’s sensitive electrical/shifter interface that can lead to total battery drain and theft risk. ​ ​<>Quick Fixes to Release the Fob<> ​I. The "Re-Park" Movement: Simply shifting gears is often not enough. Restart the engine, physically reverse the vehicle a short distance, then drive forward back into your space before shifting into park. The physical movement of the car is often required to reset the transmission sensor. ​II. The Twist: When you first park, try a quick, sharp twist to the "OFF" position immediately. Catching the system quickly sometimes prevents it from locking the fob. ​III. The Inward Firm Method: If already stuck, push the fob firmly inward toward the steering column (as if you are inserting your fob) while simultaneously twisting hard to the left. Repeat a few times before doing the re-park method to see if this will work for you first. Run/Acc>Off (be firm but if it doesn't work you're not trying to force/break it). ​<>Emergency Security<> ​If the tricks above do not work and you must leave your vehicle, you can still lock it and get back in. Make sure you apply your handbrake first just incase. - ​Physical Key Extraction: Locate the small release slide on the back of your key fob. You can slide the metal emergency key out even while the fob is stuck in the ignition. ​- Manual Locking: Use the door button, physical door locks or this metal key/a backup spare to manually lock the door/driver’s door from the in/outside. This prevents vehicle theft while the fob remains trapped. !!! Safety Conclusion!!! ​This issue highlights the volatile nature of the Dodge Dart's electrical system. While these workarounds are effective, the underlying sensor or shifter cable failure poses a recurring safety risk to owners.

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · KY

The dodge dealership had me to come in to reprogram my cars pcm(under Recall) because it was burning a quart of oil in less than 300 miles and getting extremely hot but now the engine has less oil burn as much as before but has less horsepower(tested by plugin meter) and has a ton of blowby that it blows oil out of drain plug there is no error codes or anything but the extended warranty test for a new engine isnt covered because they reprogrammed the pcm and to get a new engine under their extended warranty i would have to lose the amount of oil that i was previously before they touched the PCM they waited to show me the extended warranty after they reprogrammed it a year prior withholding that i could been eligible for new engine without catastrophic damage this car also has bcm 3 that has severe parasitic drain making the car unsafe all the way around on all 2015 models

Filed Nov 13, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · KY

The electrical has a parasitic drain and it puts so much strain on the car that it will shut down on highways and in idle surging and it has no error codes popping up at all it originally started happening July 12th 2016 but a lot of these 2015 dodge darts are having these issues and having shut downs in the middle of intersections-highways and so on that this needs to be urgently recalled I desperately need help with this i take care of my disabled mother by myself and this has been a issue with this car for a while and well documented at the dealership with no help or recourse

Filed Mar 9, 2022 · Electrical · AK

The car battery keeps dying even though it's a new battery. Alternator isn't the problem either. A bunch of blown fuses relating to the starting of the car. Around the time this issue started the computer also had an issue and we can no longer connect to Bluetooth and the odometer is blinking.

Filed Aug 19, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · FL

The seat belt warning light will continue to beep and flash when someone is in the seat and has the seatbelt on, also my car is unable to be parked for more than one day without starting it or it drains the battery and then has to be jump started with another car for it to run again and then the battery has to be replaced this seems like a serious defect the car should be able to sit for at least a couple days and be fine and this is during regular temperature times also so it's very strange it definitely seems like electrical issues.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 40,000 miles · GA

Battery needs to be replaced about every 6 months due to something draining the battery but nothing has been found. Electrical is all messed up, the computer system malfunctions. When car is turned on at randomly the air and music will go full blast and it cannot be turned down or shut off. Mechanically the car is running fine but the temperature gauge moves up and down while driving and while sitting still due to electrical issues. When driving on normal backroads or highways there is a loud clunking noise coming from the engine area and nothing has been found as to why it makes the noise.

Filed Jan 7, 2019 · Electrical · 65,435 miles · IN

I've replaced my battery twice since purchase in may. Something is draining the battery and I've even experienced driving on the highway and all my dash lights start blinking until the car cuts off and I have to restart it to get to my destination; and then take it the auto parts store to have them recharge it.

Filed Dec 19, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · 30,000 miles · PA

I recently purchased my dodge dart 2014 in august of 2018. I purchased the car with around 26,000 miles on it. Great condition, excellent mileage, no accidents, and only one owner. I have only had the car for 5 months. I use it mainly as a commuter car. It started having issues almost as soon as we got it. They were first minor things. Until november 2018. My cars battery died and refused to start. I had to replace out of pocket due to it not being covered by warranty. It was having issues starting, I thought that it was due to it being cold (because it would be fine once it heated up), so at first thought nothing of it. It would start up and I would drive it less then a mile, I would start to slow down and everything would shut off. The heater and the lights would still be on but it would loose acceleration and the battery light would come on. It will do this multiple times until the car is warm(even then it will continue to do it afterward). Rpm drops to zero, check engine, electronic throttle control, and battery light all come on. This is a safety hazard due to it stopping in traffic, on the highway, and in intersections. Something needs to be done about this issue. I have read up on this issue and see that I lot of people have this issue. My car is currently at 24% oil life, I will be testing to see if the issue is resolved(temporarily) like others have been. Due to fear of it not being covered under warranty I have not taken it to the dealer. They quoted me at $400 dollars for everything that could possibly be wrong (based off this information they have an idea of already what is wrong with the car. They still want me to come in and try to charge me for it because it most likely won't be covered by the warranty.

Filed Oct 15, 2018 · LA

Placed car in reverse and it would not shift gear to drive. Unable to remove the car had to push the vehicle to the side of the road and was unable to take the key out, until 6 hours later unable to shift any gears car ran all night until the battery died. I was on a city street working fine without a problem until poof it would not allow me to shift to drive.

Filed Jun 15, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 57,000 miles · OK

Problems since day 1 with my 2013 dodge dart. The clutch would stick in and I would have to pop it up with my foot. I would take my car in and even left it for a couple days and they just told me they couldn't reproduce the problem. And the "specialist" said what I was telling them about the clutch was impossible! So I started videoing and posting my clutch issues on youtube. The radio switches stations by itself, it goes off or won't come on. I've had the radio replaced and it still does the same thing! I've had battery issues with the battery draining and ultimately being replaced. The cruise control works about half the time. Dealership ended up replacing the clutch, had my car back 2 days and the clutch went out again. June 11th 2015 took my car in immediately when the rear brake started sticking. They had my car two days and said they adjusted the brake but couldn't reproduce the sound I heard coming from my rear passenger tire. So two weeks go by and I take my car back again demanding they take another look at it. By now the right rear caliber is stuck in and has ruined my rotor and brake pad. Later my car starts spitting and sputtering. Take it to the dealership and they said the only thing they could find wrong is the air flow pipe to the turbo was loose and they tightened it. I decided to go to a new mechanic, he said one of my ignition coils blew. 8 months later my car starts doing the same thing and my mechanic says another ignition coil blew. And he cannot get one for my exact car because they are all on back order with dodge! He also informs me that there are 3 computers in my car and they are not talking to each other. It took them a while to figure out it was the ignition coil because the computer did not alert that to their tester. Now my check engine light is on again and after 3 technicians looked at my car they said I need a new turbo.