RoadVitals

1990 Dodge Shadow

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.
40
Latest Nov 16, 2003
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.
2
Latest Apr 14, 2008
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.
18
10 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Dodge Shadow, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 24 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

  • Airbags1531.3%
  • Engine918.8%
  • Brakes36.3%
  • Electrical36.3%
  • Suspension36.3%
  • Steering36.3%
  • Transmission24.2%
  • Driver assistance24.2%

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

2 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
08E033000

SUSPENSION

Apr 14, 2008
6,903 units potentially affected
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov
89V237000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Dec 27, 1989
634,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
The risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
The remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA93009ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION

Opened Apr 21, 1993
Closed Jul 22, 1994

There is no summary currently available

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 40
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY DAUGHTER HIT A POT HOLE, HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED GIVING HER A VERY BRUISED FACE, SWOLLEN, BLACK EYE, NUMEROUS SCRATCHES AND CUTS AND A BURNED HAND. HER CAR IS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL EXCEPT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED. EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS SAY THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047011
Incident
Nov 14, 2003
Mileage
111,632 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2000
Fire reported

RECALL 89V237000/ ENGINE:GASKET:VALVE COVER: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH UNDER THE HOOD, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
874405
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Airbags
Filed Feb 3, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG FROM AN IMPACT OF 15 MPH. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS ON DRIVER'S LEFT HAND/RIGHT WRIST/CHIN, AND NECK. ALSO, RECEIVED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
856211
Incident
Jan 29, 2000
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ,TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,DRIVER MADE A QUICK STOP AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS AND BRUISES ON FACE AND CHEST. *AK

NHTSA ID
849533
Incident
Sep 21, 1999
Airbags
Filed Sep 21, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE, AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER'S JAW WAS INJURED, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
848298
Incident
Sep 21, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 1999

THERE IS SMOKE COMING OFF OF THE ENGINE FROM LEAKING OIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
707808
Incident
Sep 6, 1998
Airbags
Filed Mar 18, 1999
1 injury reported

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED BURNS TO ARMS, STOMACH, CHEST, CHEST AND A BROKEN STERNUM.

NHTSA ID
544440
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 22, 1998

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE TURNED YELLOW, NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
701538

Manufacturer communications

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

0801001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

082700

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

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 Shadow by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999100—
1998100—
1997200—
1996001—
1995102—
1994941357.4
19931071455.5
1992734667.4
1991895568.1
1990Viewing402165.5
1989333361.9
1988123361.5
1987123166.6
1986110—
1985010—

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.