IllustrationCONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS TO THE STOMACH AREA, AND SHIRT WAS ALSO BURNED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *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 reportsWHEN STARTING VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START, EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AT VARIOUS TIMES, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, SEVERAL TIMES, WHO COULD NOT FIND OR FIX PROBLEM, BUT WOULD REPLACE PARTS. SENDING INVOICES. *AK
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TWICE AND REAR BRAKE SHOES TWICE. CONSUMER IS DOING THIS EVERY SIX MONTHS.*AK
DRIVERS SEAT SHOULDER HARNESS TOO FAR BACK, SEAT BELT TWISTS/JAMS IN GUIDE WHEN PULLED FORWARD. *DSH
FUEL LINE ROUTED UNDER VEHICLE RUPTURED, STALLING VEHICLE. TT
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40MPH. TT AND THERE WERE ALSO TWO INJURIES. *JB
VEHICLE WILL RATTLE WHEN SHIFTING IN 1ST TO 2ND. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN BY MANAGER @ DEALERSHIP, BUT CAN'T DETECT CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
HAD PROBLEM ON THE BRAKE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW THE KIND OF BRAKE. TT
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