Your vehicle report
1989 Dodge Shadow
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 33
- Received Mar 1995 to Jan 2002
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Seat belt fails to latch or retract5 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night3 complaints · 9.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #92V053000The automatic shoulder restraint systems can malfunction and become inoperative.
- Recall #89V237000The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 person injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 2 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 33 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 5 | 15% | – | NHTSA recall #92V053000 |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 3 | 9.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #92V053000April 13, 1992115,000 vehicles affected
seat belts
The automatic shoulder restraint systems Can malfunction and become inoperative.
Seat occupants without shoulder restraints are subject toincreased risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or vehicle crash.
Remedy
Replace the system drive and rail assembly with revised components.
NHTSA recall #89V237000December 27, 1989634,000 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
The leakage of oil in the engine compartment could causea fire.
Remedy
Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1989 Dodge Shadow.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN