IllustrationTHE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE PARKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
1994 Dodge Colt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Colt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
18 reportsWHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND GEAR, WON'T SHIFT, AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF AN AIR BAG SYSTEM PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WOULD KEEP LEAKING OIL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LEAKING GASKET. EACH TIME WOULD BE REPAIRED & THEN PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR AGAIN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING TO SHIFT PROPERLY.*AK THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CONTINUED AND NOW THREE HEAD GASKET HAVE CRACKED. THE AIR CONDITI…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET WOULD KEEP LEAKING OIL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LEAKING GASKET. EACH TIME WOULD BE REPAIRED & THEN PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR AGAIN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING TO SHIFT PROPERLY.*AK THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CONTINUED AND NOW THREE HEAD GASKET HAVE CRACKED. THE AIR CONDITIONER, MASTER CYLINDER, TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNTS ALSO FAILED. *YH
TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BIG CRACK IN THE FRAME OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL. *AK
VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED LAST FEB 24, 2000. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE PASSED SAFETY INSPECTION. LAST APRIL 18, CAR WAS SENT TO A TIRE DEALER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT. MECHANICS FOUND A HUGE CRACK ON FRAME AT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM PROBABLY CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE.. FURTHER VISUAL INSPECTION INDICATE THAT CAR DID NOT ENGAGE…
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VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED LAST FEB 24, 2000. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE PASSED SAFETY INSPECTION. LAST APRIL 18, CAR WAS SENT TO A TIRE DEALER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT. MECHANICS FOUND A HUGE CRACK ON FRAME AT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM PROBABLY CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE.. FURTHER VISUAL INSPECTION INDICATE THAT CAR DID NOT ENGAGE IN A COLLISION AND THAT CRACK COULD BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER WELDING DURING ASSEMBLY. ADVISED TO TAKE VEHICLE OFF ROAD IMMEDIATELY FOR SAFETY REASONS. *AK
AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT 35 MPH. NO POTHOLE OR BUMP. VEHICLE WAS ROLLED OVER AT THE TIME OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
A FUEL SMELL CONSUMES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BOLTS THAT HOLD DRIVER'S SEAT TO VEHICLE CHASSIS BROKE. METAL HAS TORN AWAY FROM CHASSIS. DEALERS NOTED POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK
WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY GOING 50-55 MPH THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY CUT OFF, LOST ALL POWER EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHTS. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED THAT COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS COMPELETELY DEAD. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
EA99007 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Opened Mar 16, 1999 · Closed May 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY FROM AN UNDERCARRIAGE OR TIRE/WHEEL IMPACT WITH A CURB, BUMP, DIP POTHOLE, ETC.
EA96014 · Automatic Shoulder Belt Failure
Opened Jun 28, 1996 · Closed Jun 12, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Additional source detail variants (3)
Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS