RoadVitals

1990 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.
12
Latest Aug 31, 2000
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.
3
2 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Dodge Colt, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

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 belts969.2%
  • Electrical215.4%
  • Body & structure17.7%
  • Driver assistance17.7%

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

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.

EA98002ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP

Opened Jan 30, 1998
Closed Apr 30, 1998
WHEELSLed to recall 98V069001
EA96014ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Jun 28, 1996
Closed Jun 12, 1997

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 97V063002
PE96007ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Jan 19, 1996
Closed Jun 28, 1996

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS

SEAT BELTS
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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 31, 2000

VEHICLE WAS IDLING HIGH THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE ROAD, FLY INTO THE AIR AND FLIP 2 1/2 TIMES LANDING ON THE HOOD. NLM

NHTSA ID
554232
Incident
Sep 30, 1991
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 31, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LOOKED OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED UP. OWNER THINKS THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO OWNER STATES THAT WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO BE INSECURE IN THE SEAT.CAN CAUSE A SAFETY CONCERN. UNDER RECAL 95V102003. *AK

NHTSA ID
814645
Incident
Jul 25, 1997
Seat belts
Filed May 30, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

CONSUMER'S BROTHER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, AND HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT TIME OF CRASH DRIVER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELTS, THE SHOULDER BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF OF OCCUPANT, AND THE LAP BELT DETACHED ITSELF DURING IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ID
812609
Incident
Apr 12, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Sep 25, 1996

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT TO ITS STARTING POSITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF.

NHTSA ID
801841
Incident
Dec 15, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Sep 9, 1996

INTERMITTENT SHOULDER BELT FAILURE; PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT CLOSE/LOCK UP AS DESIGNED, PASSENGER NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.*AK

NHTSA ID
802033
Incident
Jul 15, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Aug 6, 1996

MOTORBELT FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ID
507158
Incident
Jul 1, 1994
Electrical
Filed May 15, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
504695
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Apr 30, 1996

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS FAILED. IT WILL ONLY RETRACT HALF WAY OR IT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983815
Incident
Mar 24, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

080600

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

233599REVA

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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
1990Viewing121461.7
1989331351.0
1988251252.7
1987281353.8
1986221450.8
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.