IllustrationBATTERY DRAINS PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING, MUST RECHARGE BATTERY TO START VEHICLE. *DSH
1985 Dodge Lancer
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 Lancer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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 1 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reportsOfficial recalls
489V011000 · Seats
Jan 31, 1989
DRIVERS SEAT FRAME MAY EXPERIENCE FATIGUE FAILURE AT ONE (FRONT/OUTBOARD) OF ITS FOUR ATTACHMENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN SOME FORWARD, BACKWARD OR LATERALMOVEMENT OF SEAT, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLEWHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT
Remedy: REPLACE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME WITH A STRENGHTENED VERSION; ALSO, REINFORCE POWER ADJUSTER FRONT CROSSMEMBER TO INCREASE RIGIDITY OF SEAT ATTACHMENT SYSTEM.
88V105000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Jul 1, 1988
FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OPERATION AT CONNECTIONS OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY HOSE TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND TO THE FUEL RAIL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: RELOCATE PRESSURE REGULATOR; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY WITH FORMED HOSE WITH REVISED ROUTING CONFIGURATION TO ENSURE SEALING INTEGRITY.
85V010000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jan 1, 1985
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL HOSE ROUTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE REGULATOR MAY HAVE AN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED HOSE CLAMP. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE FUEL HOSE COULD LEAK AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPOSITION AND TIGHTEN TO THE PROPER TORQUE LEVEL OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMP.
84V163000 · Seat Belts:front
Dec 23, 1984
REQUIRED FRONT CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS OMITTED. VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALLATION OF MISSING CENTER SEAT BELT WILL BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGE.
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
4EA91010 · Trans Park System Failure
Opened Dec 10, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
C88001 · Seat Attachment Failure
Opened May 18, 1988 · Closed Oct 30, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
EA88008 · Seat Attachment
Opened Nov 17, 1987 · Closed May 18, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED ONE SERVICE BULLETIN, HON-ORED 4,028 WARRANTY CLAIMS, SOLD 2,700 SEATS, AND 2,491 ADJUSTMENT REIN-FORCEMENTS. THE SUBJECT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE GM J-BODY RE-CALL (87V-079) OF MAY 1987 IN WHICH 1,136,407 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED. INTHAT RECALL THERE WERE 159 COMPLAINTS, 17 ALLEGED ACCIDENTS, AND 26 RE-PORTED INJURIES FOR ABOUT SIX TIMES AS MANY CARS. CHRYSLER HAS PROPOSEDA SERVICE RECALL FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT SINCE INI-TIALLY ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS BREAK, AT THAT TIME THE SEAT ROCKINGMOTION IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PROMPTLY REPAIRED. THE SUBJECT VEHICLESARE LIMITED TO THOSE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM.PROPOSED ACTION: TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF 11/23/87.INSPECTION & TESTINGOF A FEW VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DEFECTIVE SEATS IS ONGOING.===
PE87045 · Seat Failures
Opened Aug 7, 1987 · Closed Nov 17, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED ONE SERVICE BULLETIN, HON-ORED 4,028 WARRANTY CLAIMS, SOLD 2,700 SEATS, AND 2,491 ADJUSTMENT REIN-FORCEMENTS. THE SUBJECT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE GM J-BODY RE-CALL (87V-079) OF MAY 1987 IN WHICH 1,136,407 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED. INTHAT RECALL THERE WERE 159 COMPLAINTS, 17 ALLEGED ACCIDENTS, AND 26 RE-PORTED INJURIES FOR ABOUT SIX TIMES AS MANY CARS. CHRYSLER HAS PROPOSEDA SERVICE RECALL FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT SINCE INI-TIALLY ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS BREAK, AT THAT TIME THE SEAT ROCKINGMOTION IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PROMPTLY REPAIRED. THE SUBJECT VEHICLESARE LIMITED TO THOSE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PE AND OPEN AN EA TO PERFORM TESTING.===