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1991 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: 0 of 89 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.

  • Seats. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports

Seats complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2000
Seats

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL (#729) ON DODGE SHADOWS INVOLVING THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN ON 10/12/00 TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL AT 220 RTE. 22 WEST, GREEN BROOK, NJ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR IN WHILE I WAITED, AND BROUGHT IT OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THE JOB W…

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DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL (#729) ON DODGE SHADOWS INVOLVING THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN ON 10/12/00 TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL AT 220 RTE. 22 WEST, GREEN BROOK, NJ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR IN WHILE I WAITED, AND BROUGHT IT OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THE JOB WAS DONE. TODAY, IT IS 10/21/00 AND I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ORIGINAL IS STILL IN IT'S PLACE. I WAS ISSUED A RECEIPT, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CLEARLY, I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUD FROM A VERY LARGE AUTO DEALER WHO HAS COMPROMISED MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, AND THOSE ON THE ROADS WHO MIGHT COLLIDE WITH ME IF THE RECALLED ITEM WERE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE STUPIDITY AND NEGLIGENCE OF AN AUTO DEALER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND IF YOU NEED YOU CAN CALL ME OR MY SON HUGO CAPELLO AT WORK AT (732) 667-2081. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #734872

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSeats

CONSUMER WAS CHARGED DURING RECALL REPAIR (99V-212). MJS

NHTSA ODI #549355

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Seats

WHENEVER SEAT HAS TO BE PULLED FORWARD TO ENTER REAR, IT WOULD FAIL TO LATCH BACK INTO PLACE. CAN LEAN FORWARD TO FRONT SEAT FROM THE REAR & SEAT BACK, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849339

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Seats

CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL NOTICE TO BE HONORED BY DEALER SINCE 25 AUG 98: SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845491

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Seats

BOLT BROKE ON DRIVER'S SEAT, CAUSING T THE SEAT TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #843779

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Seats

BOLT FOR THE SEAT BACK FAILED, UNABLE TO GET FIXED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #543329

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1998
Seats

SEAT BACK BOLT RECALL REPAIR DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #539292

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1998
SeatsCrashInjury

SEAT BACK COLLAPSED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN BACK INJURY TO CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI #530877

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1997
Seats

SEAT FAILED PRIOR TO SEAT BOLT RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #603997

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1997
Seats

SEAT BOLT FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #520244

Official recalls

5

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.

97V078000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

May 10, 1997

THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S 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.

96V229000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Nov 18, 1996

THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.

90V194000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 19, 1990

THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.

Remedy: REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.

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

5

PE96036 · Throttle Will Not Return To The Position

Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED CONDITION RESULTS FRO THROTTLE SHAFT BINDING

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

EA95029 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Sep 26, 1995 · Closed Nov 13, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS, CHRYSLER HAS IDENTIFIED THE DEFECT AS A FATIGUE FAILURE, ORIGINATION IN THE HEAT AFFECTED REGION OF THE PROJECTION WELDS OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB TO STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE ATTACHMENT.THE HUB IS THE PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY THAT CONNECTS IT TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY BY 4 WELDS.IF CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE HEAT AFFECTED REGION OF THE WELDS AND PROPAGATE THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE TO EACH OF THE WELDS, THE STEERING WHEEL CAN SEPARATE FROM THE HUB.THIS IS A SLOW PROGRESSIVE FAILURE WHICH NORMALLY OCCURS AT HIGH MILEAGE.IN SOME CASES COMPLAINANTS HAVE REPORTED A LOOSENESS OR WOBBLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL PRIOR TO SEPARATION.TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT, CHRYSLER WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEELS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR CRACKS IN THE HUB AREA.IF ANY CRACKS ARE FOUND, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE REPLACED.ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE REINFORCING PLATES INSTALLED WHICH WOULD PREVENT A STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION SHOULD CRACKING OCCUR.

EA95017 · Seat Back Bolt Failure

Opened May 31, 1995 · Closed May 19, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

THE DRIVER SEAT BACK CAN COLLAPSE WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE LOWER BOLT (ONE OF TWO BOLTS THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY) CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK

PE95002 · Seat Back Failure

Opened Jan 13, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available