RoadVitals

1986 Dodge Colt

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
22
Latest Oct 31, 2002
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.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
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.
4
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 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Dodge Colt, most frequently naming the seat belts, body & structure and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 NHTSA investigations name it.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts2187.5%
  • Body & structure14.2%
  • Engine14.2%
  • Fuel system14.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign 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
95V103003

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
920,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE94093ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL

Opened Dec 21, 1994
Closed Aug 2, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 95V103001
EA92034ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Oct 22, 1992
Closed Oct 29, 1993

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PE91138ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

REAR BUMPER COVER FIRES

Opened Oct 14, 1991
Closed Jan 21, 1992

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE91066ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Apr 10, 1991
Closed Aug 16, 1991

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 22
Seat belts
Filed Oct 31, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE PROBLEM WAS BOTH BACK SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE STUCK IN THE SEAT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, HOWEVER THEY STATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF RECALL. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS ORIGINAL RECALL DOCUMENT. TS *TT *JB

NHTSA ID
8022013
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Mar 9, 2000

FOR YEARS, WATER LEAKING INSIDE TRUNK. DON'T KNOW WHERE LEAK COMING FROM. ROTTED AWAY ENTIRE INTERIOR OF TRUNK. AROUND OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1999, NOTICED SEAT BELT WON'T CLIP INTO PLACE, AND IF IT DOES AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, IT'S STUCK INSIDE. WHEN PRESS BUTTON "PRESS" NOTHING HAPPENS. *AK

NHTSA ID
719880
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Jul 2, 1997

REAR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE SEAT BELTS ARE IN THE LOCK POSITION, CANNOT DISENGAGE THE BELT FROM THE BUCKLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
813728
Incident
Jul 7, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Apr 23, 1997

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
811613
Seat belts
Filed Dec 4, 1996

SEAT BELT RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ID
522235
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Sep 20, 1996

SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED TWICE; ONCE DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS, SECOND TIME DEALER RECEIVED WRONG PARTS, CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO RETURN A THIRD TIME, HAS STILL NOT HEARD FROM DEALER (95V-103-003). *AK

NHTSA ID
801689
Incident
Aug 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 1996

CRANSHAFT BROKE, ALLOWING HARMONIC BALANCER TO FLY ACROSS THE INTERSTATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
987192
Incident
Jul 19, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jul 12, 1996

THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
986783
Incident
Feb 28, 1992

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
1986Viewing221450.8
1985101—
1984110—
1983010—
1982110—
1980010—
1979001—
1978031—
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.