FaultScore report
Owners have filed 42 complaints about the 1989 Dodge Shadow with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002. The largest single group is the seat belts.
42
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1 complaint reports a death.
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.
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 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.
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSEN
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 runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Engine
ON VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITRE OR 2.5 LITRE EFI(NON-TURBO) ENGINE, THE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED COVER AND RTV SEALANT APPLIED IN PLACE OF THE GASKET.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, RESULTED IN FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #544853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #810224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE IGNITION OFF THAT IT ROLLED BACK ABOUT (4) FEET CRASHING INTO ROCKS AND TREES. THE PARKING LOT WAS FAIRLY LEVELED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #802204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
#92V053000 RECEIVE RECALL TOOK TO DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT CONSUMER SAID ITS NOT SHE GOT HURT FROM THIS PROBLEM . TT
NHTSA complaint #972875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LIFTGATE LATCH FAILED, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL BACK AND HIT DRIVER'S/PASSENGERS IN HEAD/INJURY. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #482818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AND LIGHTLY TAPPING ON BRAKES SHOULDER RESTRAINT HAS FORCEFULLY PULLED HER BACK/ LOCKS AND DOES NOT RELEASE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #8001680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE IS LOSING OIL. ALSO, PAINT IS PEELING. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #887113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT OFTEN. MANY BULBS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. REVERSE LIGHTS NO LONGER OPPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #738440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #728616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
REAR BRAKE CARRIER IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKES AND CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INDICATED A TSB FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKE CARRIER IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKES AND CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INDICATED A TSB FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC LENSES COVERING FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORING, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #849338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, RESULTED IN FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #544853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#92V053000). TOOK VEHICLE IN. WAITED 1 1/2 HOURS, BELT NOT FIXED. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK. BRAKES WORK FINE. MECHANIC SAID BELTS FIXED. DROVE HOME. NO BRAKES. DRIVER'S BELT NOT FIXED. RECEIVED CARD, SAYING PARTS ARE NOW IN. VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES. SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #828196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING ON THE MOTOR. RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED , BUT THIS PATRICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #827212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR AXLE MAKE KNOCKING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #527518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LARGE SPOTS OF PAINT ARE COMING OFF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #518823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #810224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
IN COLD WEATHER THERE WAS AND EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAR, TOOK TO DEALER THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE IN 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #807448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
VEHICLE'S REAR CONTROL ARM IS BROKEN INSIDE AND WHILE DRIVING A LOUD SNAPPING AND CLICKING NOISE IS HEARD.
NHTSA complaint #803070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE IGNITION OFF THAT IT ROLLED BACK ABOUT (4) FEET CRASHING INTO ROCKS AND TREES. THE PARKING LOT WAS FAIRLY LEVELED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #802204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE AXLE.
NHTSA complaint #802030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE AXLE.
NHTSA complaint #802030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP.
NHTSA complaint #504672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
MOTORBELTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #505930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED TWICE, DUE TO PLASTIC HOUSING CRACKING FOLLOWED BY THE RELEASE BUTTON BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #504581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #488248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #488820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
MOTORBELT STICKS AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. (92V053000) *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #488248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.