IllustrationON THE BELT PULLY, I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE AND THE BELT BLEW APART, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON NOW, THE LIGHTS, I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX TH E PROBLEM.*AK
1994 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Shadow years →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
What owners actually said
94 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH, GOING DOWN A HILL, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT A BUSH AND A TELEPHONE POLL, AND STOPPED ON IMPACT. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT ABOUT 30-35MPH CAR ROLLED AND THE AIR BAG NEVER CAME OUT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING - ENGINE STALLS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED. *AK
THE CAR HAS PLASTIC LENS COVERS OVER A SEALED UNIT ON THE HEADLIGHTS. MOISTURE COLLECTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURE AND THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME CLOUDED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS I AM TOLD WILL TAKE ALMOST 2 HOURS IN LABOR THEREBY NECCESSITATING AN UNREA…
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THE CAR HAS PLASTIC LENS COVERS OVER A SEALED UNIT ON THE HEADLIGHTS. MOISTURE COLLECTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURE AND THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME CLOUDED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS I AM TOLD WILL TAKE ALMOST 2 HOURS IN LABOR THEREBY NECCESSITATING AN UNREASONABLE CHARGE DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. ALSO THE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE TO AIM HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT FUNCTION DUE TO POOR DESIGN. TO CURE MY PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE ME TO BUY COMPLETELY NEW HEADLIGHTS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. HAS THIS ISSUE BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE? IF SO DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? THANK YOU, JOHN BAUGH. *AK
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS RECEIVING RECALL REPAIR 99V212 WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, THE SEAT WAS BROKEN AND WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, CONSUMER TRADED THE CAR IN AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. *SLC
LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLTS BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH COULD CAUSE SEAT TO RELEASE FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT. RECALL NUMBER 99V212000. .*AK THE RECALL WAS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PASSENGER…
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LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLTS BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH COULD CAUSE SEAT TO RELEASE FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT. RECALL NUMBER 99V212000. .*AK THE RECALL WAS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FAILURE. *YH
Official recalls
199V212000 · 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
3DP03002 · 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