1990 Dodge Shadow Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Dodge Shadow, 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
- Airbags1531.3%
- Engine918.8%
- Brakes36.3%
- Electrical36.3%
- Suspension36.3%
- Steering36.3%
- Transmission24.2%
- Driver assistance24.2%
- Interior & seats24.2%
- Exterior lighting24.2%
- Powertrain (other)24.2%
- Seat belts12.1%
- Body & structure12.1%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THERE IS SMOKE COMING OFF OF THE ENGINE FROM LEAKING OIL. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGE DUE TO GREASE USED AT FACTORY STIFFING TO THE POINT OF PREVENTING THE RATCHET DOG FROM MOVING.
WHEN PRESS BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE LIGHTS DIM WHEN HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT ON, AND AT NIGHT WON'T ILLUMINATE AT ALL, DUE ELECTRIC SHORT. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK ON. DEALER TRACED CAUSE TO THREE BURNED WIRES LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN; ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT CHARGES WERE ADDED ON EACH TIME SHE HAD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT THREE TIMES WITHIN 14 MONTHS. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED TWICE. *SD
THE CROSS BEAM IN THE REAR HAS CRACKED AND IT DOES NOT KEEP THE CAR STEADY AND IS VERY NOISY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER STATES THAT HER STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, AND THAT SHE FEARS AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE WARMING UP THE CAR.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS GRANDSON WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE INGNITION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT . TT
CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK PROBLEMS PRIOR TO OR AFTER RECALL (89V-237). *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING COLUMN FIRE, WHILE DRIVING PARKED THE VEHICLE INNER THE DASH FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD CUT WIRES TO BATTERY. TT
DRIVING AT SPEED 0F 55MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS HIT AT 6:00 POSITION, DRIVER SEAT WENT RECLINE POSITION. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE TURNED YELLOW, NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED.
ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, BACK LIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK. *AK
THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY IS BROKE . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT CONSUMER ALSO STATES SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK DURING IMPACT, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, HOOD/ROOF AND TRUNK AREAS. *AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .