IllustrationCOMING TO A STOP, THE GEAR WILL SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS. SOMETIMES IT CAUSES CAR TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD. TOOK TO DEALER, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILD BECAUSE IT IS IN THE "BUMP STOP" CONDITION. *AK
1993 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: 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
What owners actually said
107 reportsWHEN TURNING A SHARP CORNER/CURVE THERE'S A WEIRD SOUND, CONSUMER THINKS THE ENGINE IS TOO BIG. ALL 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE TO THE MOUNT HAVE BROKEN. ANGIULI 718-727-5800 DEALERSHIP REPLACED 3-FREE 1ST/2ND, FOR 1 WAS CHARGED $300. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE TROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH NOISE CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR DUE TO THE REAR SWAY BAR COMING APART. CONSUMER IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE $ 500.00 REPLACEMENT CHARGE.*AK
ENGINE PULLEY POPPED OFF, ALSO HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING/ TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO SLIPPAGE/ HOOD WAS WARPED AND AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH GETS VERY HOT WHERE IT CAN BURN DRIVER'S FINGERS AND IT IS CAUSING MELTING WITHIN THE WIRES. *AK
THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR DID NOT RETRACT DURING AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY.
ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE DRIVING AT (55) MPH, TRIED APPLYING BRAKES, PUNCHED GAS PEDAL, ALSO TRIED BRAKING, PUT ON EMGERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT IN PARK TO STOP. *AK
AIR BAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY AND BROKE THE SKIN OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 15MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG BROKE SKIN OF STEERING WHEEL, BUT, NEVER FULLY INFLATED. *AK
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
4DP03002 · 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