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1994 Dodge Shadow

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales 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: 6 of 94 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports3 fire reports14 injury reports

Suspension complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
SteeringStructureSuspension

REAR HATCH LEAKS WATER, NOISY RT FRONT SUSP. CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS . HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WATER LEAKS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRAILING AXLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AIR COND. IDLER NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY NINE INSTAN…

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REAR HATCH LEAKS WATER, NOISY RT FRONT SUSP. CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS . HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WATER LEAKS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRAILING AXLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AIR COND. IDLER NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY NINE INSTANCES OF TRAILING AXLE FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA. LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME OF FIVE FAILURES THEY HAVE FOUND IN MY AREA. IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF TRIAILING AXLE FAILURES. MUST BE THE REASON THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A POSSIBLE RECALL BE LOOKED INTO. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVER ONE THOUSAND MILES SINCE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY THOUSAND MILES. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT WHEN YOU PAY $14,000. 00 FOR A VEHICLE THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO GET BETTER SERVICE FROM IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205-60X14 )

NHTSA ODI #723169

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1997
Suspension

TRAILER BAR BROKE OFF DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810691

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1997
Suspension

THE LEFT WELD JOINT OF THE REAR SWAY BAR WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR END OF THE CAR BROKE, CAUSING INSTABILLITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809020

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1996
Suspension

VEHICLE BECOMES NOISY, FRONT END MOVES UP AND DOWN DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR TRAILER AXLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986096

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1996
SuspensionVisibility

REAR TRAILER AXLE/BUSHINGS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #505599

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1996
Electrical SystemSuspension

1) REAR STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF. 2) ALTERNATOR BELT SLIPS OFF CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN TOTAL POWER FAILURE*AK CONSUMER STATES NO LONGER OWN VEHICLE, BUT PRIOR SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AT LEAST THREE TIMES THEN DEALER TOLD HER IT WAS MISSING A SPLASH KIT WHICH SHE DID PURCHASE BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBL…

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1) REAR STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF. 2) ALTERNATOR BELT SLIPS OFF CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN TOTAL POWER FAILURE*AK CONSUMER STATES NO LONGER OWN VEHICLE, BUT PRIOR SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AT LEAST THREE TIMES THEN DEALER TOLD HER IT WAS MISSING A SPLASH KIT WHICH SHE DID PURCHASE BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM .*JB

NHTSA ODI #982427

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

WHEN THE RESUME BUTTON IS PUSHED ON CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE SURGES. TT

NHTSA ODI #959773

Official recalls

1

99V212000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Aug 6, 1999

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.

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

DP03002 · Steering Column Separation

Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

RQ99006 · Seat Back Failure

Opened May 13, 1999 · Closed Feb 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

THE SEAT RECLINER'S LOWER BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK CAUSING THE SET BACK TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING.

PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation

Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996

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

There is no summary currently available