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1988 Dodge Shadow

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
12Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

2Recall campaigns

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3Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19851
198612
198712
198833
198940
199089
1991
Compare all Shadow years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
6Engine And Engine Cooling
3Power Train
3Steering
2Equipment
1
All reported categories
Seats
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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 12 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.

0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED, ENGINE FAILED AT 69,000 MILES, EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BAR BROKE AT 52,000 MILES , OUTER TIEROD ENDS REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AT 10,000 MILES, ENGINE THERMOSTAT FAILED AT 12,000 MILES, AIR CONDITIONING BELT IDLER FAILED AT 17,…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION FAILED, ENGINE FAILED AT 69,000 MILES, EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BAR BROKE AT 52,000 MILES , OUTER TIEROD ENDS REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AT 10,000 MILES, ENGINE THERMOSTAT FAILED AT 12,000 MILES, AIR CONDITIONING BELT IDLER FAILED AT 17,000, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR FAILED AT 67,000 MILES, RECALL ON DRIVERS SEAT BACK RETAINING BOLT... CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ONE PROBLEMS.......WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE........*AK

NHTSA ODI #750568

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1996
Power Train

ODOMETER FRAUD. *SD

NHTSA ODI #506311

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1995
Power Train

REAR AXLE FAILED, CAUSING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #482973

Official recalls

2

92V053000 · Seat Belts

Apr 13, 1992

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEAT OCCUPANTS WITHOUT SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ARE SUBJECT TOINCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SYSTEM DRIVE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED COMPONENTS.

88V129000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Aug 1, 1988

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELT RETRACTOR, WHICH INCORPORATES A CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKING FEATURE, MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEAT BELT LOCK WOULD EXTRACT AND CHILD SEAT MAY MOVE OUTOF ITS RESTRAINED POSITION.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP RETRACTOR WITH A REDESIGNED RETRACTOR.

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

3

EA91043 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Apr 20, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE91082 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure

Opened Jun 5, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE91065 · Steering Gear Bolts Loosen

Opened Apr 16, 1991 · Closed Aug 30, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available