1994 Dodge Shadow Owner Complaints

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-85 IN CARNESVILLE, GA, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK RIGHT OF MY CAR. I LOOKED BACK AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DIRECTION OF MY BACK RIGHT TIRE. I BEGAN TO SLOW MY CAR BY LETTING OFF THE GAS. AT THIS TIME MY CAR BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL, FIRST VEERING RIGHT. I TRIED TO REDIRECT THE CAR BACK TO THE ROAD AS IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS SOME TREES. THE CAR THE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE LEFT CAUSING MY CAR TO GO TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE INTERSTATE. IT HIT A PATCH OF MUD AND GRASS, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO FLIP. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED IT WAS FACING THE NORTH BOUND LANE. THE BACK RIGHT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2010 AND WAS NEW. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 3,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10333923

Incident

May 27, 2010

Mileage

151,250 mi

FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK INTO A SECURE POSITION. WHEN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS OPENED, SEATBELT MECHANISM DOES NOT MOVE SHOULDER BELT TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION. WHEN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS CLOSED WITH IGNITION KEY TURNED ON, FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT TRAVEL TO THE LOCKED POSITION. FRONT PASSENGER ONLY HAS USE OF MANUAL LAP BELT FOR ACCIDENT PROTECTION. THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT MOVE INTO THE ANCHORED LOCATION FOR PROTECTION. EACH TIME VEHICLE IS TURNED ON OR TURNED OFF, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT MECHANISM HAS LESS MOVEMENT AND IS BARELY MOVING THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE COMPLETELY OPENED POSITION AND THE COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200735

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

173,125 mi

94 DODGE SHADOW AND SOME OTHER YEARS AROUND MY AREA ARE GOING BAD HAVING TO REPLACE THE COMPUTERS AND THEY ARE COSTLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147172

Incident

Jan 3, 2006

Mileage

94,639 mi

CHRYSLER CORPORATION REFUSES TO MAKE AVAILABLE REPAIR PARTS FOR THE SHIFT LINKAGE CABLES IN THE DODGE SHADOW AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. WHERE THE SHIFT CABLE ATTACHES TO THE TRANSMISSION THERE ARE PLASTIC "SNAP" GROMMETS THAT HOLD THE END OF THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN USED FOR YEARS ON SIMILAR APPLICATIONS BY VARIOUS AUTO MAKERS. WHEN THAT GROMMENT WEARS OUT, DODGE DOES NOT MAKE IT AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE REPAIR PART AND INSTEAD WANTS TO SELL A $130.00+ (I LAST CHECKED SEVERAL YEARS AGO) COMPLETE SHIFT CABLE TO REPLACE A 50 CENT PART. I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON TWO CARS (A 93 & A 94) BUT HAVE HEARD OF IT ON OTHER CARS. CHRYSLER MAKES MANY OTHER LINKAGE SNAP GROMMETS AVAILABLE AND I SEE THIS AS PURE GREED ON THEIR PART TO NOT MAKE THESE SIMPLE REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE. I WOULD HAPPILY PAY SEVERAL $$'S APIECE FOR THESE OVER HAVING TO BUY A VERY EXPENSIVE CABLE AND ITS ASSOCIATED LABOR TO CHANGE. DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS DEALER PARTS PERSONNEL SIMPLY RESULTS IN A SHRUG OF THE SHOULDERS. THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT SYSTEM KEEPS THE PARTS FROM COMING APART BUT LEADS TO VERY SLOPPY/DIFFICULT SHIFTING WHEN THIS PART IS WORN. THERE ARE TWO OF THESE ON EACH VEHICLE. I CAN NOT TELL YOU IF THEY ARE IDENTICAL OR NOT, BUT I SUSPECT THEY ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SIZES TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING CROSSED DURING ASSEMBLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133062

Incident

Jun 19, 2001

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING THROUGH A LIGHT AT 10 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101762

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

CAM SHAFT BROKE AT 60,000 MILES ON A VACATION TRIP.... COST OF ON ROAD REPAIRS... $600. *LA

NHTSA ID

10065598

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS ON DODGE SHADOW BECOME TRANSLUCENT WITH AGE. LAMPS CAN BE SEEN BY ONCOMING CARS BUT DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. OKAY ON WELL-LIT CITY STREETS BUT HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALMOST NO EFFECT IN THE COUNTRY. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, AND CLEARLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE MANUFACTURER TO LET IT HAPPEN. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054394

Incident

Jan 18, 2004

ELECTRICAL, TAIL LAMP, BRAKE LAMP WIRING, AND WIRING HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018623

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

117,000 mi

THE RIGHT BLINKER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED.*YH *TS

NHTSA ID

568165

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE DUE TO BROKEN LUGS AND STRUCK THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

NHTSA ID

564511

Incident

Dec 3, 2001

ON THE BELT PULLY, I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE AND THE BELT BLEW APART, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON NOW, THE LIGHTS, I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX TH E PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

753916

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

898194

Incident

Jun 10, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH, GOING DOWN A HILL, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT A BUSH AND A TELEPHONE POLL, AND STOPPED ON IMPACT. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

895570

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

WHILE DRIVING HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT ABOUT 30-35MPH CAR ROLLED AND THE AIR BAG NEVER CAME OUT

NHTSA ID

9002780

Incident

May 26, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

745480

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

882544

INTERMITTENT STALLING - ENGINE STALLS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ID

735021

Incident

Oct 24, 2000

THE CAR HAS PLASTIC LENS COVERS OVER A SEALED UNIT ON THE HEADLIGHTS. MOISTURE COLLECTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURE AND THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME CLOUDED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS I AM TOLD WILL TAKE ALMOST 2 HOURS IN LABOR THEREBY NECCESSITATING AN UNREASONABLE CHARGE DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. ALSO THE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE TO AIM HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT FUNCTION DUE TO POOR DESIGN. TO CURE MY PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE ME TO BUY COMPLETELY NEW HEADLIGHTS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. HAS THIS ISSUE BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE? IF SO DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? THANK YOU, JOHN BAUGH. *AK

NHTSA ID

732318

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS RECEIVING RECALL REPAIR 99V212 WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, THE SEAT WAS BROKEN AND WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, CONSUMER TRADED THE CAR IN AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

554311

LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLTS BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH COULD CAUSE SEAT TO RELEASE FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT. RECALL NUMBER 99V212000. .*AK THE RECALL WAS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

869129

Incident

Aug 27, 2000

PASSING A VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FOOT OFF GAS TO ABOUT 65MPH. PUMPED BRAKES AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW VEHICLE. CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. FINALLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 45. LET FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED "OUT OF CONTROL" UNTIL BRAKE PRESSURE SLOWED CAR AGAIN. CAUTIOUSLY LIFTED FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR OPERATED "NORMALLY". CONTACTED CORTESE DODGE (DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NY) AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A CABLE THAT "GOT STUCK". THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL CARS THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. AND "...COME TO THINK OF IT, THEY WERE ALL DODGE SHADOWS." FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO CROSS STREETS OR IMMINENT INTERSECTIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

726511

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS BROKE OFF.DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

866392

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. ALL FOUR, FRONT AND REAR MOUNTS BROKE AT 40,000 MILES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

866029

EXTERIOR PAINT CHIPPING ALL AROUND THE CAR, HAVE PERFORMED REGULAR WAXING THROUGHOUT LIFE OF THE CAR. IS THERE ARE RECALL ON THIS PAINT, IT SEEMS THAT A SIX-SEVEN YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITH SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

725069

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

REAR HATCH LEAKS WATER, NOISY RT FRONT SUSP. CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS . HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WATER LEAKS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRAILING AXLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AIR COND. IDLER NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY NINE INSTANCES OF TRAILING AXLE FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA. LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME OF FIVE FAILURES THEY HAVE FOUND IN MY AREA. IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF TRIAILING AXLE FAILURES. MUST BE THE REASON THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A POSSIBLE RECALL BE LOOKED INTO. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVER ONE THOUSAND MILES SINCE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY THOUSAND MILES. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT WHEN YOU PAY $14,000. 00 FOR A VEHICLE THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO GET BETTER SERVICE FROM IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205-60X14 )

NHTSA ID

723169

Incident

Mar 12, 1997