IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND, WHO WAS MECHANIC, FOUND THAT RACK AND PINION WAS MISSING ONE MOUNTING BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS LOOSE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
1988 Dodge Shadow
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 →12Owner complaints
Model-year median: 12
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
3InvestigationsView 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 Shadow
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 12 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 3 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)
- Seat Belts: 6 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
- Power Train: 3 reports
- Steering: 2 reports
- Equipment: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
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
Compare all Shadow years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 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
Steering complaints
2 reportsTRANSMISSION 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
Recall campaigns
292V053000 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
3EA91043 · 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.