RoadVitals

1989 Dodge Colt Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
33
Latest Oct 6, 2000
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Dodge Colt, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Seat belts2567.6%
  • Driver assistance38.1%
  • Exterior lighting25.4%
  • Suspension25.4%
  • Steering12.7%
  • Engine12.7%
  • Heating & air conditioning12.7%
  • Electrical12.7%
  • Brakes12.7%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

25
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP AND WON'T MOVE. IT IS NOT IN THE LATCHED POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID 733607 · filed Oct 6, 2000

RECALL # 95V103003, CONTACTED DEALER IN JAN OF 97. PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR (7) MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID 815648 · filed Aug 25, 1997
All 25 reports naming seat belts →

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO LEAKING SEALS.

NHTSA ID 519033 · filed Jun 23, 1997

VEHICLE HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH NO WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID 974064 · filed Oct 27, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID 820281 · filed Jan 16, 1998

AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO LEAKING SEALS.

NHTSA ID 519033 · filed Jun 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN EITHER DIRECTION, TO CORRECT HAS REPLACED TWO TIRES AND ROTATED TIRES, DLR INDICATES MAY BE SUSPENSION PROBLEM, NOT FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID 807724 · filed Jan 15, 1997

BALL JOINT SECURED BY SNAP RING WHICH IS .003 INCHES LARGER THAN SLOT, ALLOWING SNAP RING TO FALL OFF/JOINT TO COME OUT. *DSH

NHTSA ID 502980 · filed Mar 23, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF.

NHTSA ID 510328 · filed Oct 21, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO LEAKING SEALS.

NHTSA ID 519033 · filed Jun 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO LEAKING SEALS.

NHTSA ID 519033 · filed Jun 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP; TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME ; DID NOT FIX IT ON LAST VISIT. LAST FEW TIMES; WAS TOLD BY DEALER MAYBE VEHICLE HAD GROUND WIRING PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID 810460 · filed Apr 25, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON, CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE.

NHTSA ID 518612 · filed Jun 16, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .