The 1968 Dodge Dart is a robust A-body platform known for legendary slant-six durability and simple small-block V8 options. Most issues stem from age rather than design flaws—50+ year-old rubber, brittle wiring, and lack of regular use cause more problems than the mechanicals themselves.
Timing Chain Stretch and Gear Wear (All Engines)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi or 40+ years of sitting
Symptoms: Hard starting when warm, Rough idle with backfiring, Retarded timing that won't adjust with distributor, Rattling from front of engine on cold starts
Fix: Replace timing chain, gears, and cover gasket. On slant-six, expect 4-6 hours due to tight working space and need to remove radiator. V8s run 3-5 hours. Nylon timing gear teeth shed and cause slack—classic Mopar issue pre-1975.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Torsion Bar Anchor Corrosion and Sway
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: Uneven ride height side-to-side, Clunking from front suspension over bumps, One front corner sits 1-2 inches lower, Visible rust holes in lower control arm pockets
Fix: Common in rust-belt cars. Torsion bar anchors rust through the frame rails, causing sway bar ineffectiveness and unpredictable handling. Requires frame section replacement or welding reinforcement plates—6-10 hours plus alignment. Some cars need full subframe work.
Estimated cost: $800-2,000
Fuel Tank Sending Unit and Tank Rust
Common · low severitySymptoms: Fuel gauge reads empty or full regardless of actual level, Fuel smell from trunk area, Rust flakes in fuel filter, Hard starting after sitting—fuel evaporates from leaking seams
Fix: Original sending units fail from corrosion, and tanks develop pin leaks from ethanol fuel degrading internal coatings. Tank drop is 2-3 hours. Budget for new sending unit ($100-150) and consider tank replacement or POR-15 sealing if planning to keep the car.
Estimated cost: $300-700
Steering Box Wear and Sector Shaft Play
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi or decades of dry rot
Symptoms: 1-2 inches of steering wheel play before wheels respond, Wandering on highway requiring constant correction, Clunking when transitioning from left to right turn, Visible oil weeping from sector shaft seal
Fix: Manual steering boxes wear at sector shaft. Adjustment helps temporarily but most need rebuild or replacement. Rebuild takes 4-5 hours (remove, bench rebuild, reinstall, align). Many owners swap in later Firm Feel upgraded units. Power steering cars leak at pump and hoses more than box itself.
Estimated cost: $400-900
Carburetor Varnish and Accelerator Pump Failure
Common · medium severitySymptoms: Hesitation on acceleration from stop, Black smoke and flooding when cold, Won't idle without foot on gas, Fuel leaking from carburetor base or accelerator pump
Fix: Carter BBD (slant-six) and Holley/Carter AFB (V8s) suffer from ethanol fuel degrading gaskets and leaving varnish. Modern gas requires rebuild every 5-10 years even on garage-kept cars. Rebuild kits run $40-80, labor 2-3 hours. Many swap to Edelbrock or Holley replacements for reliability.
Estimated cost: $200-600
Brake Master Cylinder and Wheel Cylinder Leaks
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: Spongy brake pedal that goes to floor, Brake fluid puddles at wheels or under master cylinder, Loss of braking on one wheel—pulls to one side, Pedal slowly sinks to floor when held at stoplight
Fix: Single-reservoir master cylinders leak internally or externally—dangerous by modern standards. Wheel cylinders seize or leak from old rubber. Full system overhaul (master, all four wheel cylinders, hoses, flush) runs 4-6 hours. Strong recommendation to upgrade to dual-reservoir master for safety.
Estimated cost: $400-900
Wiring Harness Deterioration (Bulkhead Connector)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Intermittent electrical failures—lights, gauges, ignition, Ammeter swings wildly or shows discharge, Smell of burning plastic near firewall, Multiple accessories dying simultaneously, Headlights dim severely when using turn signals
Fix: The bulkhead connector (firewall pass-through) develops resistance from corrosion, causing voltage drop and heat. Pins melt, terminals crack. Requires disassembly, cleaning with DeOxit, re-pinning bad terminals, or aftermarket bypass harness. 3-5 hours to properly address. Ignoring it causes alternator/regulator failures and fires.
Estimated cost: $200-600
Absolutely buy one if solid—these are among the most affordable classics to own, with bulletproof drivetrains and cheap parts still available; just avoid rust-belt cars with frame rot.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.