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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY PROGRESSIVELY MISALIGNED ITSELF OVER TIME, CAUSING THE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF . THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING, NO CHARGING SYSTEM, AND A DAMAGED ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 02/24/1997. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPEND ON 1/14 2000. I BELIEVE A T.S.B EX…
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DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY PROGRESSIVELY MISALIGNED ITSELF OVER TIME, CAUSING THE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF . THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING, NO CHARGING SYSTEM, AND A DAMAGED ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 02/24/1997. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPEND ON 1/14 2000. I BELIEVE A T.S.B EXISTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A MOTORIST WITH A WEAK BATTERY STRANDED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOLTS WITHIN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK UNDER CONTROL AND TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849448
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1999
Unknown Or Other
PAINT IS SEVERLY PEELING ON HOOD AND ROOF-EVERY TEAL DODGE THAT I HAVE SEEN THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING. I HAVE E-MAIL THE DODGE CORP. 2 TIMES AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. PLEASE HELP!!! PAINT, NO SAFETY DEFEC T. *AKY
NHTSA ODI #708831
Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR REINFORCEMENT AXLE BAR BROKE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. WHEN CONSUMER WAS MARKING A RIGHT TURN ON MARCH 13TH, THE OTHER PART OF THE REAR AXLE BAR CAME FLYING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE VE…
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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR REINFORCEMENT AXLE BAR BROKE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. WHEN CONSUMER WAS MARKING A RIGHT TURN ON MARCH 13TH, THE OTHER PART OF THE REAR AXLE BAR CAME FLYING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. STOPPED WHEN THE REINFORCEMENT AXLE BAR CAME OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836130
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1999
Equipment
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I DID TEST THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND IT SEEMED TO BE IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ALSO, SINCE A/C WAS AN OPTION I PAID FOR I EXPECTED TO GET IT. FOUR DAYS LATER I TURNED ON THE A/C AND ALL THAT WOULD BLOW OUT WAS WARM AIR. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO I …
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WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I DID TEST THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND IT SEEMED TO BE IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ALSO, SINCE A/C WAS AN OPTION I PAID FOR I EXPECTED TO GET IT. FOUR DAYS LATER I TURNED ON THE A/C AND ALL THAT WOULD BLOW OUT WAS WARM AIR. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO I WAS NOT TO ALARMED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY TESTED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. I THEN TESTED IT MYSELF AND AGAIN ALL THAT BLEW WAS WARM AIR. I PROCEEDED TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND ENDED UP BRINGING THE CAR BACK 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE A/C. BY THEN I WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO HAVE THEM PERFORM A FULL CHECK OF THE SYSTEM. THEY DID DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM AS WELL AS A CHECK FOR ANY LEAKS AND ADDING ONE AND A HALF POUNDS OF FREON. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS AND YES THE FREON WAS LOW SO THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE TURNED ON THE A/C, NOW WITH THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FREON, IT STILL WOULD NOT BLOW ANYTHING OTHER THAN WARM AIR. I FEEL THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHECKED IT THOROUGHLY ALL THOSE TIMES THE CAR WAS IN THEIR SHOP THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS THAT LOW ON FREON AND WHAT'S MORE I FEEL LIKE I WAS SOLD THE CAR WITH THE A/C OPTION AND THEY EITHER KNEW FROM THE START IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY BUT NEVER DISCLOSED THAT TO ME OR ELSE THEY FOUND IT DID NOT WORK AFTER THE FACT AND RATHER THAN DO THE CORRECT THING AND REPLACE IT, SINCE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, OR REPAIR WHAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING THEY CHOOSE TO PLAY GAMES AND GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS IN MY PURCHASING THIS CAR WAS THAT IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AIR CONDITIONING, SINCE THE AVERAGE TEMP. IN THE SUMMER HERE IS 110 DEGREES, AND HAD I KNOWN THE CARS AIR CONDITIONING DID NOT WORK I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE!
NHTSA ODI #705641
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP, BRAKES WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE BRAKES BACK UP, INSPECTION SHOWED FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE. . *AK
NHTSA ODI #834938
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Structure
PAINT PEELING OF HOOD, FENDERS AND ROOF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #702679
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1998
Seats
WHILE AJUSTING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT, THE LOWER SEATBACK ATTACHING BOLT FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARD.CONSUMER LEARND OF A MFR. RECALL FOR A 1992 VEHICLE / NHSTA RECALL# 97V-078. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830273
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1998
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment
HORN ALWAYS BLOWS FUSES; LIGHTER BLOWS FUSES AND THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED.
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
1994 Dodge Shadow Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year