The 1988 Dodge Shadow has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 121,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
REPLACE THE SYSTEM DRIVE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED COMPONENTS.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELT RETRACTOR, WHICH INCORPORATES A CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKING FEATURE, MAY MALFUNCTION.
SEAT BELT LOCK WOULD EXTRACT AND CHILD SEAT MAY MOVE OUTOF ITS RESTRAINED POSITION.
REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP RETRACTOR WITH A REDESIGNED RETRACTOR.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving at any speed vehicle had excessive play in steering wheel. Consumer's husband, who was mechanic, found that rack and pinion was missing one mounting bolt and the other one was loose. Dealership was notified. *ak”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
“Transmission 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…”
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Dodge Shadow as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.