SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1990 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 →
40Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
12
198712
198833
198940
199089
199173
1992107
1993
Compare all Shadow years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
15Engine And Engine Cooling
9Electrical System
4Exterior Lighting
3Power Train
3
All reported categories
Steering
3Suspension
3Vehicle Speed Control
2Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
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: 1 of 40 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1998
Electrical System

AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK ON. DEALER TRACED CAUSE TO THREE BURNED WIRES LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN; ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT CHARGES WERE ADDED ON EACH TIME SHE HAD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828275

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1995
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT THREE TIMES WITHIN 14 MONTHS. TT

NHTSA ODI #973009

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

STEERING COLUMN FIRE, WHILE DRIVING PARKED THE VEHICLE INNER THE DASH FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD CUT WIRES TO BATTERY. TT

NHTSA ODI #968859

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK PROBLEMS PRIOR TO OR AFTER RECALL (89V-237). *SKD

NHTSA ODI #481654

Official recalls

1

89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Dec 27, 1989

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

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

1

EA93009 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Apr 21, 1993 · Closed Jul 22, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available