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 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
PASSING A VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FOOT OFF GAS TO ABOUT 65MPH. PUMPED BRAKES AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW VEHICLE. CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. FINALLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 45. LET FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED "OUT OF CONTROL" UNTIL BRAKE PRESSURE SLOWED CAR AGAIN. CAUTIOUSLY LIFTED FOOT OFF BRAKE…
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PASSING A VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FOOT OFF GAS TO ABOUT 65MPH. PUMPED BRAKES AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW VEHICLE. CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. FINALLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 45. LET FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED "OUT OF CONTROL" UNTIL BRAKE PRESSURE SLOWED CAR AGAIN. CAUTIOUSLY LIFTED FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR OPERATED "NORMALLY". CONTACTED CORTESE DODGE (DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NY) AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A CABLE THAT "GOT STUCK". THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL CARS THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. AND "...COME TO THINK OF IT, THEY WERE ALL DODGE SHADOWS." FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO CROSS STREETS OR IMMINENT INTERSECTIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #726511
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Structure
BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS BROKE OFF.DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866392
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. ALL FOUR, FRONT AND REAR MOUNTS BROKE AT 40,000 MILES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866029
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2000
Unknown Or Other
EXTERIOR PAINT CHIPPING ALL AROUND THE CAR, HAVE PERFORMED REGULAR WAXING THROUGHOUT LIFE OF THE CAR. IS THERE ARE RECALL ON THIS PAINT, IT SEEMS THAT A SIX-SEVEN YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITH SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725069
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
SteeringStructureSuspension
REAR HATCH LEAKS WATER, NOISY RT FRONT SUSP. CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS . HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WATER LEAKS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRAILING AXLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AIR COND. IDLER NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY NINE INSTAN…
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REAR HATCH LEAKS WATER, NOISY RT FRONT SUSP. CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS . HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WATER LEAKS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRAILING AXLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AIR COND. IDLER NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY NINE INSTANCES OF TRAILING AXLE FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA. LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME OF FIVE FAILURES THEY HAVE FOUND IN MY AREA. IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF TRIAILING AXLE FAILURES. MUST BE THE REASON THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A POSSIBLE RECALL BE LOOKED INTO. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVER ONE THOUSAND MILES SINCE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY THOUSAND MILES. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT WHEN YOU PAY $14,000. 00 FOR A VEHICLE THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO GET BETTER SERVICE FROM IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205-60X14 )
NHTSA ODI #723169
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Structure
PAINT WAS PEELING OFF HOOD. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859541
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Power TrainCrashInjury
MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND RAN ME OVER. I BROKE MY BACK IN THREE PLACES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719853
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Electrical System
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT DUE TO A BAD WIRE HARNESS. THE HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK*ML
NHTSA ODI #857801
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING WOULD TRY TO ROLL UP OR DOWN FRONT WINDOWS. IT WAS DIFFICULT. PULLED OVER & PUSHED WINDOW WITH HANDS, FRONT WINDOW FELL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FRONT WINDOW CLIP HAD BROKEN. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & INFORMED NOTHING WRONG WITH WINDOWS OR WINDING MECHANISM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #852178
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE TEMPRATURE GUAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN HOT AFTER THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.
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
3
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
1994 Dodge Shadow Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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