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.
Buckle Assembly
1463.6%
Tail Lights
29.1%
Brake Lights
14.5%
AIR Conditioner
14.5%
TIE ROD Assembly
14.5%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers
14.5%
Webbing
14.5%
Engine
14.5%
When owners complained
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.
Feb 1995peak 6Oct 2000
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Dodge Colt
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.
EA96014Opened 28 Jun 1996Closed 12 Jun 1997SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE96007Opened 19 Jan 1996Closed 28 Jun 1996SEAT BELTS
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE94093Opened 21 Dec 1994Closed 2 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS
TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL
Recalls on the 1989 Dodge Colt
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199508712,080 units in Canada
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Atlantic Beach, FLCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT CATCH. THE SHOULDER BELT WENT FORWARD WITH OWNER AND THE LAP BELT BROKE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #814114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
MAKING LEFT TURN, DRUNK DRIVER RAN RED LIGHT, HIT VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, DRIVER WAS STRUNG AROUND IN CAR.
NHTSA complaint #983165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Dayton, OH
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP AND WON'T MOVE. IT IS NOT IN THE LATCHED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #733607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annadale, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #820281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Goleta, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON, CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #518612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Setauket, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL # 95V103003, CONTACTED DEALER IN JAN OF 97. PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR (7) MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #815648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Jefferson, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONTACTED THOMAS DODGE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN SHIPPED TO THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #815109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATING DUE TO MISADJUSTED THROTTLE BODY.
NHTSA complaint #519033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #519033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATON DUE TO MISADJUSTED TIMING.
NHTSA complaint #519033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
LEFT TAIL LIGHT IS DIM DUE TO A FAILED GROUND WIRE.
NHTSA complaint #519033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO LEAKING SEALS.
NHTSA complaint #519033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlantic Beach, FLCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT CATCH. THE SHOULDER BELT WENT FORWARD WITH OWNER AND THE LAP BELT BROKE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #814114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingston, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR IN CLOSED POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #812521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbury, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP; TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME ; DID NOT FIX IT ON LAST VISIT. LAST FEW TIMES; WAS TOLD BY DEALER MAYBE VEHICLE HAD GROUND WIRING PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #810460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE RED PLASTIC RELEASE LEVER BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #514012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, NC
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN EITHER DIRECTION, TO CORRECT HAS REPLACED TWO TIRES AND ROTATED TIRES, DLR INDICATES MAY BE SUSPENSION PROBLEM, NOT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #807724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PARTS WERE ORDERED ON MAY 14, 1996 AND THE PARTS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED.
NHTSA complaint #805718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Owatonna, MN
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #510328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Brunswick, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FIRST CONTACT WITH THE DEALER WAS ON 4-22-96. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED NOTICE ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #802323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerqu, NM
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #506904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rumford, ME
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RELEASE FROM ITS HOUSING. DRIVER MUST MANUALLY UNFASTEN TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #986619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
SEAT BELTS
BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT FAILS TO ENGAGE; SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #985167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stockton, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PE96-007 ACTIVE, AUTOMATIC LAP/SHOULDER BELT FAILURE, WILL NOT RETRACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (OTHER VEHICLE ON 802685).
NHTSA complaint #985817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
River Edge, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
#95V103003, RECEIVED RECALL, CAR SAT AT DEALER FOR TWO DAYS, SERVICE CALL BACK, THERE ARE NO PARTS, PLEASE DECRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #986192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Worcester, VT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO BUCKLE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #501308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SEAT BELTS
WHEN MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS RETRACT, IT JAMS AND GRABS AGAINST THE CHEST OF THE OCCUPANT.
NHTSA complaint #504346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.