13 of the
137 complaints about the 1994 Dodge Shadow are about the
transmission — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,000 miles.
F
13
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Transmission
323.1%
Axle Assembly
215.4%
Power Train
17.7%
Manual Transmission
17.7%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
17.7%
Torque Converter
17.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
17.7%
Axle Shaft
17.7%
Clutch Assembly
17.7%
Floor Shift Assembly
17.7%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 100,000 milesMechanicsville, MD
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
CHRYSLER CORPORATION REFUSES TO MAKE AVAILABLE REPAIR PARTS FOR THE SHIFT LINKAGE CABLES IN THE DODGE SHADOW AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. WHERE THE SHIFT CABLE ATTACHES TO THE TRANSMISSION THERE ARE PLASTIC "SNAP" GROMMETS THAT HOLD THE END OF THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN USED FOR YEARS ON SIMILAR APPLICATIONS BY VARIOUS AUTO MAKERS. WHEN THAT GROMMENT WEARS OUT, DODGE DOES NOT MAKE IT AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE REPAIR PART AND INSTEAD WANTS TO SELL A $130.00+ (I LAST CHECKED SEVERAL YEARS AGO) COMPLETE SHIFT CABLE TO REPLACE A 50 CENT PART. I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON TWO CARS (A 93 & A 94) BUT HAVE HEARD OF IT ON OTHER CARS. CHRYSLER MAKES MANY OTHER LINKAGE SNAP GROMMETS AVAILABLE AND I SEE THIS AS PURE GREED ON THEIR PART TO NOT MAKE THESE SIMPLE REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE. I WOULD HAPPILY PAY SEVERAL $$'S APIECE FOR THESE OVER HAVING TO BUY A VERY EXPENSIVE CABLE AND ITS ASSOCIATED LABOR TO CHANGE. DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS DEALER PARTS PERSONNEL SIMPLY RESULTS IN A SHRUG OF THE SHOULDERS. THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT SYSTEM KEEPS THE PARTS FROM COMING APART BUT LEADS TO VERY SLOPPY/DIFFICULT SHIFTING WHEN THIS PART IS WORN. THERE ARE TWO OF THESE ON EACH VEHICLE. I CAN NOT TELL YOU IF THEY ARE IDENTICAL OR NOT, BUT I SUSPECT THEY ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SIZES TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING CROSSED DURING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10133062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MICrash1 injured
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND RAN ME OVER. I BROKE MY BACK IN THREE PLACES.
NHTSA complaint #719853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bluefield, WV
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR REINFORCEMENT AXLE BAR BROKE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. WHEN CONSUMER WAS MARKING A RIGHT TURN ON MARCH 13TH, THE OTHER PART OF THE REAR AXLE BAR CAME FLYING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. STOPPED WHEN THE REINFORCEMENT AXLE BAR CAME OFF.
NHTSA complaint #836130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Burl, VT
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #538846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash1 injured
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REAREND COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURIES; ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #514793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, VACrash
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HIT IN REAR AT 35 MPH, PASSENGER SEAT FLEW FORWARD AND SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE. AT 35,000 MILES TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE.
NHTSA complaint #546613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Victoria, TX
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #511542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwalk, CT
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH NOISE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #502986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plant City, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #506172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plant City, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #506172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Addison, ILCrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IDLING IN PARK, AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF. TT VEHICLE HIT A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #973248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wantagh, NY
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE BROKE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND. TT
NHTSA complaint #972339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MI
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #489034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.