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Dodge LancerYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 30 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on record for the Dodge Lancer.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints30Top: Fuel system, gasolineSafety recalls71985–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Dodge Lancer years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lancer median. Tap a year for its full report.

'85'86'87'89'95'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/1008 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10014 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Dodge Lancer problems

All model years combined: 30 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline74
Electrical system62
Engine and engine cooling50
Service brakes, hydraulic40
Power train40
Tires30
Steering30
Structure20
Exterior lighting20
7 other systems92
7 recalls

Dodge Lancer recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine and engine cooling: engine89V-237 · 1989 · Dec 27, 1989 · 634,000 vehicles–Parking brake89V-038 · 1987 · Mar 20, 1989 · 1,550 vehicles–Seats89V-011 · 1985 · Jan 31, 1989 · 60,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline88V-105 · 1985–1987 · Jul 1, 1988 · 580,000 vehicles–Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery86V-053 · 1986 · Apr 10, 1986 · 32,149 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings85V-010 · 1985 · Jan 1, 1985 · 53,000 vehicles–Seat belts: front84V-163 · 1985 · Dec 23, 1984 · 208 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Lancer

  1. STEERING COLUMN SEPARATIONDP03002 · 1995 · closed Jul 22, 2003
    No recall
  2. TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILUREEA91010 · 1985–1987 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  3. SEAT ATTACHMENT FAILUREC88001 · 1985–1986 · closed Oct 30, 1989
    No recall
  4. SEAT ATTACHMENTEA88008 · 1985–1986 · closed May 18, 1988
    Led to recall 88V-061
  5. SEAT FAILURESPE87045 · 1985–1986 · closed Nov 17, 1987
    No recall