IllustrationDURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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 reportsSEAT BACK LOCKING MECHANISM IS MADE OF POOR MATERIAL, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. *SD
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…
Read full complaint
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
FOGGY NIGHT ROAD, CAME TO AN INTERSECTION, DID NOT SEE INTERSECTION, WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS, HIT EMBANKMENT, HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL, THEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *
CLUTCH NOISE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. *SD
VEHICLE'S STARTER FAILED CAUSING STALLING WHEN IN WET WEATHER. TT
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IDLING IN PARK, AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF. TT VEHICLE HIT A TREE.*JB
REAR AXLE BROKE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND. TT
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