RoadVitals

1993 Plymouth Duster

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 Dec 26, 1998
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.
0
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.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Plymouth Duster, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and airbags categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Engine423.5%
  • Brakes317.6%
  • Airbags317.6%
  • Driver assistance211.8%
  • Seat belts211.8%
  • Suspension211.8%
  • Transmission15.9%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

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

DP03002ClosedDefect Petition

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION

Opened May 7, 2003
Closed Jul 22, 2003

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

STEERING:COLUMN

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Engine
Filed Dec 26, 1998

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION LEE THAN 50,000 MILES ON ENGINE

NHTSA ID
701600
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 13, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

SEAT BELT BROKE DURING ACCIDENT. 526819 DUP 0F 532600; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

NHTSA ID
532600
Incident
Aug 17, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 1998

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
529105
Incident
Jan 20, 1998
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 18, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION (HEAD ON), SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR FAILED. DUP OF 532600. *AK

NHTSA ID
526819
Incident
Aug 17, 1997
Engine
Filed Nov 4, 1997

THE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS REPLACED (15) MONTHS AGO WITH 43,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 57,000 MILES AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
818239
Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 1997

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
520874
Incident
Aug 2, 1995
Driver assistanceEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 26, 1997

TORSION BAR SHATTERED; ALSO SERPENTINE BELT POPPED OFF AND ROUGH IDLE WHEN STARTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
602629
Engine
Filed Feb 20, 1997
Fire reported

HUSBAND DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, OPENED UP & NOTICED FLAMES, STOPPED VEHICLE, OPENED DOOR AND SAW REAL HEAVY & BLACK SMOKE, VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. WAS TOWED. INSURANCE CO. NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
807680
Incident
Jan 6, 1997

Manufacturer communications

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

R2118796A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.

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

Plymouth Duster by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994501—
1993Viewing120147.8
1992200—
1975010—
1973001—
1972010—

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.