1985 Dodge SHADOW: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V105000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 1988-07-01 (July 1, 1988)
FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OPERATION AT CONNECTIONS OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY HOSE TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND TO THE FUEL RAIL.
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: RELOCATE PRESSURE REGULATOR; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY WITH FORMED HOSE WITH REVISED ROUTING CONFIGURATION TO ENSURE SEALING INTEGRITY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1332.5%ODI 10047011 · 111,632 miMY 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 | 910.1%ODI 10012122THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB | 1013.7%ODI 804408CONSUMER HAD HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AUTO WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER CAR AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK | 76.5%ODI 705156WHEN WASHING THE CAR - THE PAINT JUST PEELED OFF AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *AK | 1010.6%ODI 805138AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY ABOUT 45 DEGREE INCLINE, SPEED LESS THAN 5 MPH, RAINY WEATHER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 986665REAR-ENDED IN ACCIDENT AND BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 18.3%ODI 750568TRANSMISSION FAILED, ENGINE FAILED AT 69,000 MILES, EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BAR BROKE AT 52,000 MILES , OUTER TIEROD ENDS REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AT 10,000 MILES, ENGINE THERMOSTAT FAILED AT 12,000 MILES, AIR CONDITIONING BELT IDLER FAILED AT 17,000, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR FAILED AT 67,000 MILES, RECALL ON DRIVERS SEAT BACK RETAINING BOLT... CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ONE PROBLEMS.......WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE........*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 12.5%ODI 962993DRIVING AT SPEED 0F 55MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS HIT AT 6:00 POSITION, DRIVER SEAT WENT RECLINE POSITION. TT | 1011.2%ODI 530877SEAT BACK COLLAPSED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN BACK INJURY TO CONSUMER. | 1216.4%ODI 484262DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED AND FELL INTO REAR SEAT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL. *AK | 98.4%ODI 10041989 · 140,000 miWHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SLAMMED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME OFF OF THE FRAME. *AK | 99.6%ODI 504421SEAT BACK LOCKING MECHANISM IS MADE OF POOR MATERIAL, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. *SD | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3% | 18.3%ODI 750568TRANSMISSION FAILED, ENGINE FAILED AT 69,000 MILES, EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BAR BROKE AT 52,000 MILES , OUTER TIEROD ENDS REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AT 10,000 MILES, ENGINE THERMOSTAT FAILED AT 12,000 MILES, AIR CONDITIONING BELT IDLER FAILED AT 17,000, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR FAILED AT 67,000 MILES, RECALL ON DRIVERS SEAT BACK RETAINING BOLT... CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ONE PROBLEMS.......WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE........*AK | 412.1% | 25.0%ODI 523296SMOG PUMP QUIT WORKING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CV JOINTS LEAK. *AK | 11.1%ODI 711444I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PIECE OF CRAP CAR. FIRST THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THEN PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE CYLINDERS AND NOW I HAVE SOME SORT OF SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR THAT CAUSES THE RADIO TO GO OUT. I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER WAS JUMPING UP TO LIKE 5000RPM BY ITSELF AND THEN IT WOULD DROP TO ZERO. THIS HAPPENED FOR A WHILE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RADIO GOES OUT AND SO DOES EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FUSE. I PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE 15 TIMES UNTIL I TOOK A AMPERAGE READING WITH A MULTIMETER AND… | 45.5% | 1211.2%ODI 10139693 · 65,000 miDT: THE VEHCILE IS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW ES. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME IN MARCH 2001. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHEN SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD IN HE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE TO THE PARKING SWITCH AND THE PROPORTIANAL VALVE, IGNITION SWITCH, AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS SLI… | 33.2% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 972101THE ENGINE GASKET WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES AND THE WHOLE HEAD WAS CRACKED. TT | 39.1% | 410.0% | 55.6% | 11.4% | 54.7%ODI 10007169ENGINE OVER POWERS MOTOR MOUNTS AND CONTINUOUSLY RIPS THEM APART. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****765219 | 77.4%ODI 10065598 · 60,000 miCAM SHAFT BROKE AT 60,000 MILES ON A VACATION TRIP.... COST OF ON ROAD REPAIRS... $600. *LA | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 982439FAILURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISON AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO BROKE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.0%ODI 968100THE FRONT TWO SEATS WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE IN THE TRACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 66.7%ODI 503246PASSENGER SEAT BROKE IN REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY. *DH | 79.6%ODI 10625807 · 145,000 miTHE RECALL REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE WAS INCORRECTLY PERFORMED. I AM FRIEND OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. SHE HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS NEW. FROM DAY ONE, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE SEATS IN HER CAR WERE NOT LOCKING INTO POSITION WHEN FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE SEATED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER (1999?), DODGE HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON HER CAR. THEY SAID THAT THE SEATS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM. MY FRIEND BROUGHT HER CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL SERVICE ON HER SEATS. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE LOCK … | 54.7%ODI 10395446 · 196,700 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEATS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOP BOLT WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE SIX YEARS PRIOR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V212000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND TH… | 22.1%ODI 546613VEHICLE HIT IN REAR AT 35 MPH, PASSENGER SEAT FLEW FORWARD AND SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE. AT 35,000 MILES TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10074217 · 71,000 miWHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT FRAME BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO WOBBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 216.7%ODI 780128ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, AND IF IT IS NOT ON, THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO RUN. WHEN IT IS ON, IT RUNS SLUGGISH. ALSO REPLACED IGNITION PLUGS/ROTOR/CAPS AND FUEL FILTER. | 216.7% | 39.1% | 410.0% | 33.4% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 32.8% | 44.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Rear | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 26.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.1%ODI 976984THE REAR AXLE HAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND IT AND IT WILL BREAK SOON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT | 34.1%ODI 842421WHILE DRIVING 35MPH REAR END LET LOOSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK | 98.4%ODI 710834DEALER DID FOLLOWING: AXLE, REAR/TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY - REPLACE (B); 1 CROSSMEMB-ER - CONTROL AR; 2 BUSHING - RR SUSP FRT PIVOT; FC: 11; PART #: 4778752; THE 1993 DODGE SHADOW WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND ALL OVER THE ROAD BEFORE THE REPAIR.. PLEASE NOTE: THAT OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR REPORTS APPEAR ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE UNDER DIFFERENT CATAGORIES. WE CALL IT THE REAR SWAY BAR. | 44.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 22.2%ODI 715097THE PAINT ON MY HOOD STARTED PEELING IN LARGE CHUNKS WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS NO PRIMER UNDER THE PAINT, ONLY BARE METAL. IS THIS LEGAL? I THEN SAW ANOTHER 1991 DODGE SHADOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I KEPT MY EYES OPEN AND I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT ON ALMOST ALL WHITE 1991 DODGE CARS OR TRUCKS HAVE SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS. I KNOW FORD HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONCE AND THEY TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. WILL CHRYSLER?NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK | 22.7% | 98.4% | 33.2%ODI 516477WATER SETTLES IN DASH DURING RAIN, THEN LEAKS OUT CAUSING INTERIOR DAMAGE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 1 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.