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1993 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: 4 of 107 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.

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

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

Seats complaints

14 reports
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196,700 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEATS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOP BOLT WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE SIX YEARS PRIOR UNDER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEATS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOP BOLT WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE SIX YEARS PRIOR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V212000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 196,700.

NHTSA ODI #10395446

140,000 miles · Sep 30, 2003
SeatsCrash

WHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SLAMMED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME OFF OF THE FRAME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10041989

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2001
SeatsCrashInjury

REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SEAT BACK FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741912

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
SeatsCrashInjury

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE RECLINER MACHANISM TO DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, AND SEAT FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, DRIVER WAS IN A LYING POSITION,.CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND LANDED IN A DITCH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #872477

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON 395 AND TRAVELLING 45MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, AND SLAMMED BACKWARDS INTO A GUARDRAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BACK DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR, AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPS…

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WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON 395 AND TRAVELLING 45MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, AND SLAMMED BACKWARDS INTO A GUARDRAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BACK DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR, AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED CAUSING INJERY TO CONSUMER'S BACK . *AK.ET.

NHTSA ODI #857816

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1999
Seats

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850684

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Seats

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE. STOPPED AND NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF REAR SEAT BETWEEN THE PLASTIC AND METAL FROM THE SIDE WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849940

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1999
Seats

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO NOTICE (99V-212). MJS

NHTSA ODI #548856

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1999
Seats

PASSENGER'S SEAT FALLS FOWARD WHENEVER COMING TO A STOP, IT WILL NOT STAY IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846983

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1999
Seats

THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM BROKE IN HALF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #704971

Official recalls

1

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.

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

4

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

PE94069 · Interior Fires

Opened Sep 14, 1994 · Closed Jan 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

There is no summary currently available