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1989 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 →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
198612
198712
198833
198940
199089
199173
1992
Compare all Shadow years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
9Engine And Engine Cooling
7Power Train
7Exterior Lighting
3Suspension
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Structure
2Equipment
1Seats
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Wheels
1

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 33 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2002
Seat Belts

WHILE DRIVING AND LIGHTLY TAPPING ON BRAKES SHOULDER RESTRAINT HAS FORCEFULLY PULLED HER BACK/ LOCKS AND DOES NOT RELEASE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8001680

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE IS LOSING OIL. ALSO, PAINT IS PEELING. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #887113

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2000
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT OFTEN. MANY BULBS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. REVERSE LIGHTS NO LONGER OPPERATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738440

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #728616

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE CARRIER IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKES AND CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INDICATED A TSB FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #858716

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Exterior Lighting

PLASTIC LENSES COVERING FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORING, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849338

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, RESULTED IN FIRE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #544853

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1998
Seat Belts

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#92V053000). TOOK VEHICLE IN. WAITED 1 1/2 HOURS, BELT NOT FIXED. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK. BRAKES WORK FINE. MECHANIC SAID BELTS FIXED. DROVE HOME. NO BRAKES. DRIVER'S BELT NOT FIXED. RECEIVED CARD, SAYING PARTS ARE NOW IN. VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES. SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE VEHI…

Read full complaint

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#92V053000). TOOK VEHICLE IN. WAITED 1 1/2 HOURS, BELT NOT FIXED. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK. BRAKES WORK FINE. MECHANIC SAID BELTS FIXED. DROVE HOME. NO BRAKES. DRIVER'S BELT NOT FIXED. RECEIVED CARD, SAYING PARTS ARE NOW IN. VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES. SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828196

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING ON THE MOTOR. RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED , BUT THIS PATRICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827212

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1997
Suspension

REAR AXLE MAKE KNOCKING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #527518

Official recalls

2

92V053000 · Seat Belts

Apr 13, 1992

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEAT OCCUPANTS WITHOUT SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ARE SUBJECT TOINCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SYSTEM DRIVE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED COMPONENTS.

89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Dec 27, 1989

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

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

EA91043 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Apr 20, 1992

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

There is no summary currently available

PE91082 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure

Opened Jun 5, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1991

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

There is no summary currently available

PE91065 · Steering Gear Bolts Loosen

Opened Apr 16, 1991 · Closed Aug 30, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available