RoadVitals

1978 Dodge Colt

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Aug 27, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Dodge Colt. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

Feb 24, 1983
160,000 units potentially affected
The defect: FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS ON SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY RUST IF EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT USED FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE EXISTING SUPPORT STRAPS WITH GALVANIZED STEEL STRAPS WITHOUT CHARGE.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Jun 13, 1979
15,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL LEAKAGE EXISTS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE STAKING OPERATION THAT MAY ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK BY THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM AND DISCHARGE FROM THE PUMP BODY THROUGH THE PUMP BREATHER HOLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FUEL PUMPS AT NO COST TO OWNERS.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE87035ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BLT STALK CABLE WIRES

Opened Jul 1, 1987
Closed Sep 8, 1987

SUMMARY:A REVIEW OF THE RECENT CANADIAN VEHICLE RECALL INFORMATION PRO-VIDED BY TRANSPORT CANADA REVEALED THAT CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SAFETYRECALL CAMPAIGN IN CANADA (CODE 393) ON CERTAIN 1977 THRU 1979 DODGE ANDPLYMOUTH COLT VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT STALKS.A REVIEW OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION REVEALED THAT NO OWNER COMPLAINTS RE-CEIVED BY ODI AND CHRYSLER; NO FIELD REPORTS, SERVICE OR TECHNICAL BULLETINSUBROGATION CLAIMS OR LAWSUITS CONCERNING FAILURE OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTSTALK HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER.ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER'S RESPONSE,STALK CABLE WIRE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF ABNORMAL SEAT BELTUSAGE-REPEATED EXTREME TWISTING OR ACUTE BENDING OF THE STALK-AND LOWTEMPERATURE OPERATION.BASED ON THE ABOVE, IT APPEARS THAT STALK CABLEFAILURE DOES NOT FREQUENTLY OCCUR ON THE RELATIVELY OLD SUBJECT VEHICLESIN THE U.S. THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS PE BE CLOSED.===

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Colt by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996200
1995001
1994180346.3
19931072358.5
1992142245.8
1991171352.4
1990121461.7
1989331351.0
1988251252.7
1987281353.8
1986221450.8
1985101
1984110
1983010
1982110
1980010
1979001
1978Viewing031
1977021
1976010
1971030

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.