FaultScore report
Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 1987 Dodge Colt with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the seat belts.
44
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
REAR BUMPER COVER FIRES
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the (takata) ABS plastic front seat belt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seat belt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS IN A LIGHT REAR END ACCIDENT, AND AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING REAR AXLE BROKE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #836835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
WHILE DRIVING, HEARD LOUD BURST W/COMPARTMENT FILLING WITH STEAM AND ANTI-FREEZE BURNT DRIVERS FOOT FROM UNDER DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #979713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
WHILE DRIVING, HEARD LOUD BURST W/COMPARTMENT FILLING WITH STEAM AND ANTI-FREEZE BURNT DRIVERS FOOT FROM UNDER DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #979713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK IN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. TT
NHTSA complaint #960185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN A 5" CHUNK OF TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND EXPOSED THE STEEL BELTS IN THE TIRE. THE AIR STARTED TO LEAK OUT. *AK SOME TIME AFTER THE TREAD SEPARATED THE TIRE STARTED TO LOSE AIR. THE TREAD WEAR PATTERN INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MAY HAVE BEEN "SOMEWHAT" UNDER-INFLATED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY SO AND NOT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE TIRE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. THE TIRE MODEL HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. (CORDOVAN GRAND PRIX RADIAL G/T) *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HELLO!I PURCHASED THIS 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA WAGON USED IN 1999 AND INITIALLY WHEN PURCHASED THE AUTO/TRANSMISSION FLOATED OUT OF GEAR IN A BUSY AREA AND WOULD NOT MOVE,UNTIL I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER,AND FINALLY IT JUMPED INTO GEAR.IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I MUST SIT IN CAR AT AN IDLE AT LEAST 5MINUTES BEFORE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK!SECOND PROBLEM IS MANIFOLD IS LEAKING AND ALSO MOTOR OIL IS LEAKING UNTO MANIFOLD AND CAUSES A LOT OF SMOKE UNDER ENGINE AND OUT THE EXHAUST.I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RECALLS ALREADY ON SOME MODELS OF THE 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA SW ACCORDING TO ALLDATA.COM.THE WHOLE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED(MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST) AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL FLOAT OUT OF CAR ANYWHERE!!THE EMMISION IS VERY BAD AT THIS TIME DO TO SMOKE FROM CAR!
NHTSA complaint #743602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE THROUGH VENTS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD OF CARBON MONOXIDE FOR THOSE INSIDE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #719136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #610318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS IN A LIGHT REAR END ACCIDENT, AND AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING REAR AXLE BROKE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #836835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
HOLE IN EXHAUST PIPE.
NHTSA complaint #514442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #521512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL REPAIR NOT PERFORMED ON FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #519274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC IN REAR AND CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD DEGRADED. THIS VARIATION IS CAUSED BY POSSIBLE CONTACT OF SUN RAYS.
NHTSA complaint #815522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DISTRIBUTOR CAP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MAIN OIL SEAL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #516886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE
NHTSA complaint #513319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
REAR DEFROSTER SWITCH BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #513319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #509021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.