FaultScore report
Owners have filed 50 complaints about the 1990 Dodge Shadow with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the airbags.
50
Complaints
18
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
11
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
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 1 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
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.
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION
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.
Lights And Instruments
NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING DUE TO CORROSION FAILURE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE. CORRECTION: DRL MODULE WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE HAVING ADDITIONAL POTTING MATERIAL THAT COVERS ALL PREVIOUSLY EXPOSED COMPONENTS.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY DAUGHTER HIT A POT HOLE, HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED GIVING HER A VERY BRUISED FACE, SWOLLEN, BLACK EYE, NUMEROUS SCRATCHES AND CUTS AND A BURNED HAND. HER CAR IS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL EXCEPT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED. EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS SAY THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10047011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL 89V237000/ ENGINE:GASKET:VALVE COVER: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH UNDER THE HOOD, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #874405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG FROM AN IMPACT OF 15 MPH. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS ON DRIVER'S LEFT HAND/RIGHT WRIST/CHIN, AND NECK. ALSO, RECEIVED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #856211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ,TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,DRIVER MADE A QUICK STOP AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS AND BRUISES ON FACE AND CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #849533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE, AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER'S JAW WAS INJURED, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #848298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED BURNING TO THE DRIVER'S HANDS. YH
NHTSA complaint #610015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY DAUGHTER HIT A POT HOLE, HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED GIVING HER A VERY BRUISED FACE, SWOLLEN, BLACK EYE, NUMEROUS SCRATCHES AND CUTS AND A BURNED HAND. HER CAR IS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL EXCEPT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED. EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS SAY THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10047011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL 89V237000/ ENGINE:GASKET:VALVE COVER: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH UNDER THE HOOD, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #874405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG FROM AN IMPACT OF 15 MPH. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS ON DRIVER'S LEFT HAND/RIGHT WRIST/CHIN, AND NECK. ALSO, RECEIVED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #856211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ,TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,DRIVER MADE A QUICK STOP AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS AND BRUISES ON FACE AND CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #849533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE, AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER'S JAW WAS INJURED, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #848298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED BURNING TO THE DRIVER'S HANDS. YH
NHTSA complaint #610015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE IS SMOKE COMING OFF OF THE ENGINE FROM LEAKING OIL.
NHTSA complaint #707808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED BURNS TO ARMS, STOMACH, CHEST, CHEST AND A BROKEN STERNUM.
NHTSA complaint #544440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE TURNED YELLOW, NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #701538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK ON. DEALER TRACED CAUSE TO THREE BURNED WIRES LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN; ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT CHARGES WERE ADDED ON EACH TIME SHE HAD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #828275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE AT STOP WHEN ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #537529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING.
NHTSA complaint #532536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #523296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #523296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #523296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, HOOD/ROOF AND TRUNK AREAS.
NHTSA complaint #5242165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #516498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
OWNER STATES THAT HER STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, AND THAT SHE FEARS AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #807564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGE DUE TO GREASE USED AT FACTORY STIFFING TO THE POINT OF PREVENTING THE RATCHET DOG FROM MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #511228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAK.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601635)
NHTSA complaint #505803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS GRANDSON WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE INGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #803698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVNG ON FREEWAY, A LITTLE ROUGH ROAD AND AIR BAG POPPED OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #986571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #502065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE WARMING UP THE CAR.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #978685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, BACK LIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.