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 89 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.
Seats. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 14 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
89 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2000
Seats
DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL (#729) ON DODGE SHADOWS INVOLVING THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN ON 10/12/00 TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL AT 220 RTE. 22 WEST, GREEN BROOK, NJ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR IN WHILE I WAITED, AND BROUGHT IT OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THE JOB W…
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DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL (#729) ON DODGE SHADOWS INVOLVING THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN ON 10/12/00 TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL AT 220 RTE. 22 WEST, GREEN BROOK, NJ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR IN WHILE I WAITED, AND BROUGHT IT OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THE JOB WAS DONE. TODAY, IT IS 10/21/00 AND I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ORIGINAL IS STILL IN IT'S PLACE. I WAS ISSUED A RECEIPT, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CLEARLY, I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUD FROM A VERY LARGE AUTO DEALER WHO HAS COMPROMISED MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, AND THOSE ON THE ROADS WHO MIGHT COLLIDE WITH ME IF THE RECALLED ITEM WERE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE STUPIDITY AND NEGLIGENCE OF AN AUTO DEALER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND IF YOU NEED YOU CAN CALL ME OR MY SON HUGO CAPELLO AT WORK AT (732) 667-2081. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #734872
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ON SEPTEMBER 17,2000 @9:27AM MY BREAKS GAVE OUT ON ME COMPLETLY, 2HOURS LATER THEY WERE WORKING AGAIN, THE BRAKE LIGHT DID COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WENT AWAY.
NHTSA ODI #731779
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAME OUT UNEXPECTEDLY & KNOCKED THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS. VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER DUE TO A SUDDEN STOP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869277
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2000
Structure
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. IN THE SUMMER MONTHS DURING HOT WEATHER THE SEALS SHRINKS, AND THEY DON'T MET TO KEEP WATER FROM COMING IN OVER THE DOOR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #864925
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED 3X AND DECREASED SPEED. ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING 4X. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.
NHTSA ODI #719160
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE FLOODS ITS SELF AND SHUTS DOWN AT WILL. DEALER CLAIMS PROBLEM CAN'T BE REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #854478
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1999
Unknown Or Other
THE PAINT ON MY HOOD STARTED PEELING IN LARGE CHUNKS WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS NO PRIMER UNDER THE PAINT, ONLY BARE METAL. IS THIS LEGAL? I THEN SAW ANOTHER 1991 DODGE SHADOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I KEPT MY EYES OPEN AND I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT ON ALMOST ALL WHITE 1991 DODGE CARS OR TRUCKS HAVE SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS. I K…
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THE PAINT ON MY HOOD STARTED PEELING IN LARGE CHUNKS WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS NO PRIMER UNDER THE PAINT, ONLY BARE METAL. IS THIS LEGAL? I THEN SAW ANOTHER 1991 DODGE SHADOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I KEPT MY EYES OPEN AND I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT ON ALMOST ALL WHITE 1991 DODGE CARS OR TRUCKS HAVE SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS. I KNOW FORD HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONCE AND THEY TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. WILL CHRYSLER?NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715097
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSeats
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED DURING RECALL REPAIR (99V-212). MJS
NHTSA ODI #549355
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
Equipment
LIGHTER FLIES OUT OF IT'S CASING WHEN HOT. NLM
NHTSA ODI #549285
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Seats
WHENEVER SEAT HAS TO BE PULLED FORWARD TO ENTER REAR, IT WOULD FAIL TO LATCH BACK INTO PLACE. CAN LEAN FORWARD TO FRONT SEAT FROM THE REAR & SEAT BACK, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER SEAT CAN FAIL AND SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH A HIGHER STRENGTH BOLT THAT INCLUDES A SELF LOCKING NYLON PATCH.
THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAN FAIL AND SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH A HIGHER STRENGTH BOLT THAT INCLUDES A SELF LOCKING NYLON PATCH.
THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA95029 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened Sep 26, 1995 · Closed Nov 13, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS, CHRYSLER HAS IDENTIFIED THE DEFECT AS A FATIGUE FAILURE, ORIGINATION IN THE HEAT AFFECTED REGION OF THE PROJECTION WELDS OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB TO STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE ATTACHMENT.THE HUB IS THE PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY THAT CONNECTS IT TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY BY 4 WELDS.IF CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE HEAT AFFECTED REGION OF THE WELDS AND PROPAGATE THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE TO EACH OF THE WELDS, THE STEERING WHEEL CAN SEPARATE FROM THE HUB.THIS IS A SLOW PROGRESSIVE FAILURE WHICH NORMALLY OCCURS AT HIGH MILEAGE.IN SOME CASES COMPLAINANTS HAVE REPORTED A LOOSENESS OR WOBBLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL PRIOR TO SEPARATION.TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT, CHRYSLER WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEELS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR CRACKS IN THE HUB AREA.IF ANY CRACKS ARE FOUND, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE REPLACED.ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE REINFORCING PLATES INSTALLED WHICH WOULD PREVENT A STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION SHOULD CRACKING OCCUR.
EA95017 · Seat Back Bolt Failure
Opened May 31, 1995 · Closed May 19, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
THE DRIVER SEAT BACK CAN COLLAPSE WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE LOWER BOLT (ONE OF TWO BOLTS THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY) CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK
PE95002 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Jan 13, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
1991 Dodge Shadow Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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