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1988 Dodge Daytona

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 11

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1988 Dodge Daytona

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 11 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
  • Seat Belts: 3 reports
  • Electrical System: 2 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
  • Power Train: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    4
    1985    4
    1986    8
    1987    11
    1988    34
    1989    26
    1990    13
    1991
    Compare all Daytona years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    3    Seat Belts
    3    Electrical System
    2    Fuel System, Gasoline
    2    Power Train
    2
    All reported categories
    Steering
    2    Structure
    2    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1    Visibility
    1

    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: 0 of 11 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.

    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

    What owners actually said

    11 reports
    Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
    Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

    MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALSO FUEL ING.QUIT. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #726476

    Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1999
    Steering

    RACK AND PINION STEERING BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED VIBRATION WITHIN STEERING. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #847894

    Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1999
    Seat Belts

    EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY FAILING TO RETRACT PROPERLY; CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER/MFR NOTIFED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL/ REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #834224

    Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1998
    Power Train

    PLASTTIC PIECE ON STICK SHIFT BREAKS INSIDE THE SHIFTER, VEHICLE CAN NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

    NHTSA ODI #536539

    Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1997
    Electrical SystemFire

    WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, PULLED ASIDE, OPENED HOOD, ENGULFED WITH FLAMES, DAMAGE MOSTLY IN AREA OF BATTERY, ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT. CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #815216

    Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
    Engine And Engine CoolingFire

    WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #812025

    Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1997
    Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

    DRIVER HIT BRAKES AND BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND/ CAR THEN SPON OUT OF CONTROL, THEN HIT A PICKUP TRUCK. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #809309

    Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 1997
    Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

    ENGINE HEADS FAILED.

    NHTSA ODI #528034

    Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1996
    Structure

    WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE K-FRAME TWISTS AND SWAYS AND FINALLY BREAKS OR SNAPS, THIS 4TH K-FRAME FOR VEHICLE. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #986291

    Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1996
    Seat Belts

    SEAT BELT RETRACTOR; FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #981003

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    2

    PE89016 · Horn Failure

    Opened Nov 29, 1988 · Closed Feb 21, 1989

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

    There is no summary currently available

    PE88108 · Trunk Fire

    Opened Sep 22, 1988 · Closed Jan 6, 1989

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

    There is no summary currently available

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.