FaultScore

1993 Dodge Shadow electrical problems

16 of the 135 complaints about the 1993 Dodge Shadow are about the electrical system — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.

F

16

Complaints

1

Crashes

8

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Interior/Under Dash 5 31.3%
Front Underhood 2 12.5%
Ignition 2 12.5%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 2 12.5%
Switch 2 12.5%
Horn 1 6.3%
Wiring 1 6.3%
Rear Compartment/Trunk 1 6.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 65,000 miles Clinton, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT: THE VEHCILE IS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW ES. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME IN MARCH 2001. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHEN SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD IN HE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE TO THE PARKING SWITCH AND THE PROPORTIANAL VALVE, IGNITION SWITCH, AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING THEY ADDED NEW CLUTCHES. IN MARCH OF 2005 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. SHE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INLINE FUSES. THEN ON JULY 8, 2005 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WAS STILL HOT. THEY TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. ABOUT AN HOUR OR MORE LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE DOME LIGHT, HEAD LIGHTS, AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. THE NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR WAS STILL ON. ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE GAUGES WERE GOING IN CIRCLES. THEN IT WENT DEAD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND IT IS STILL THERE. THEY CAN NOT FIND WHY IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES.

NHTSA complaint #10139693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Clinton, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

DT: THE VEHCILE IS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW ES. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME IN MARCH 2001. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHEN SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD IN HE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE TO THE PARKING SWITCH AND THE PROPORTIANAL VALVE, IGNITION SWITCH, AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING THEY ADDED NEW CLUTCHES. IN MARCH OF 2005 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. SHE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INLINE FUSES. THEN ON JULY 8, 2005 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WAS STILL HOT. THEY TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. ABOUT AN HOUR OR MORE LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE DOME LIGHT, HEAD LIGHTS, AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. THE NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR WAS STILL ON. ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE GAUGES WERE GOING IN CIRCLES. THEN IT WENT DEAD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND IT IS STILL THERE. THEY CAN NOT FIND WHY IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES.

NHTSA complaint #10139693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Clinton, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DT: THE VEHCILE IS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW ES. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME IN MARCH 2001. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHEN SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD IN HE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE TO THE PARKING SWITCH AND THE PROPORTIANAL VALVE, IGNITION SWITCH, AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING THEY ADDED NEW CLUTCHES. IN MARCH OF 2005 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. SHE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INLINE FUSES. THEN ON JULY 8, 2005 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WAS STILL HOT. THEY TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. ABOUT AN HOUR OR MORE LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE DOME LIGHT, HEAD LIGHTS, AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. THE NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR WAS STILL ON. ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE GAUGES WERE GOING IN CIRCLES. THEN IT WENT DEAD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND IT IS STILL THERE. THEY CAN NOT FIND WHY IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES.

NHTSA complaint #10139693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Sterling Hgts, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DT: CALLER'S -HUSBAND PURCHASED DAUGHTER A USED CAR. THE WIRING ON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND THE FUMES AND THE SMOKE ALMOST KILLED HER. SHE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH WHEN THE PLASTIC STARTED BUBBLING AND MELTING WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10125083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN DASHBOARD. CONSUMER LIFTED UP PANEL AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #877265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER HAD PULLED INSIDE OF DRIVEWAY AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE DASHBOARD, ELECTRICAL FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE. THERE WERE NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #873428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgeley, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THINGS STARTES HAPPENING,IT WAS USED WITH NO WARRANTY,MY FAULT BUT I CAN'T AFORD TO FIX DODGE'S MISTAKES. WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE I WAS GOING TO WORK AND WAS LATE BESIDES ALMOST WRECKING. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. I WANT TO TRADE IT IN AND GET SOMETHING ELSE BUT NO ONE WILL TAKE THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #727480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgeley, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THINGS STARTES HAPPENING,IT WAS USED WITH NO WARRANTY,MY FAULT BUT I CAN'T AFORD TO FIX DODGE'S MISTAKES. WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE I WAS GOING TO WORK AND WAS LATE BESIDES ALMOST WRECKING. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. I WANT TO TRADE IT IN AND GET SOMETHING ELSE BUT NO ONE WILL TAKE THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #727480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING A BURST OF FLAMES IGNITED BEHIND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT FIRE OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #861959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suffern, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #519498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suffern, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #519498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSING SMOKE TO ENTER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #519004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willis, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENT STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #482471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willis, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #482471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL Crash 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER/INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Totowa, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE DASH. DISCONNECTED TWO BURNING WIRES. TT

NHTSA complaint #963989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1993 Dodge Shadow problems

← Full 1993 Dodge Shadow report