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Dodge ShadowYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 466 NHTSA owner complaints across 14 model years, no Dodge Shadow year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. The Shadow has 11 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'89 '90 '91 '92Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints466Top: SeatsSafety recalls111985–1999 model years

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

Best & worst years

Dodge Shadow 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 Shadow median. Tap a year for its full report.

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'97'98'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1994Solid46/10094 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid46/100107 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid54/10073 complaints · 4 recalls1991Solid46/10089 complaints · 5 recalls1990Solid60/10040 complaints · 1 recall1989Best78/10033 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/10012 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/10012 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Dodge Shadow problems

All model years combined: 466 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
Seats6616
Air bags6554
Engine and engine cooling648
Power train566
Electrical system4415
Structure371
Seat belts329
Suspension311
Steering264
13 other systems11724
11 recalls

Dodge Shadow recalls

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

–Front assembly: recliner99V-212 · 1991–1994 · Aug 6, 1999 · 227,283 vehicles–Front assembly: recliner97V-078 · 1991–1992 · May 10, 1997 · 148,000 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar96V-229 · 1991–1992 · Nov 18, 1996 · 675,000 vehicles–Seat belts92V-053 · 1988–1989 · Apr 13, 1992 · 115,000 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar92V-015 · 1992 · Feb 14, 1992 · 20,000 vehicles–Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive90V-194 · 1991 · Nov 19, 1990 · 398 vehicles–Disc: caliper90V-162 · 1991 · Sep 4, 1990 · 18,000 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: engine89V-237 · 1989–1990 · Dec 27, 1989 · 634,000 vehicles–Parking brake89V-038 · 1987 · Mar 20, 1989 · 1,550 vehicles–Front: retractor88V-129 · 1988 · Aug 1, 1988 · 6,500 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline88V-105 · 1985–1987 · Jul 1, 1988 · 580,000 vehicles
12 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Shadow

  1. STEERING COLUMN SEPARATIONDP03002 · 1993–1995 · closed Jul 22, 2003
    No recall
  2. SEAT BACK FAILURERQ99006 · 1993–1994 · closed Feb 2, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-212
  3. THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE POSITIONPE96036 · 1991–1992 · closed Oct 31, 1996
    No recall
  4. SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATIONPE96008 · 1991–1996 · closed Jun 28, 1996
    No recall
  5. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONEA95029 · 1991–1992 · closed Nov 13, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-229
  6. SEAT BACK BOLT FAILUREEA95017 · 1991–1992 · closed May 19, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-078
  7. SEAT BACK FAILUREPE95002 · 1991–1992 · closed May 31, 1995
    No recall
  8. INTERIOR FIRESPE94069 · 1992–1993 · closed Jan 31, 1995
    No recall
  9. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONEA93009 · 1990 · closed Jul 22, 1994
    No recall
  10. AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILUREEA91043 · 1988–1989 · closed Apr 20, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-053