AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
Model year

1988 Dodge Shadow

Pickup, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jan 21, 1995 to Aug 6, 2004.

Recalls (3)Complaints (12)Investigations (3)Bulletins (0)
Recall campaigns covering this model year3128k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints124.0 times the median 1988 pickup
Severity index16.7Crash, fire, injury or death per 100
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 1988 Dodge Shadow peaked in 1995, with 7 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

02468199571998200120042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 1988 Dodge Shadow name seat belts

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Seat belts
6
Engine and cooling
3
Powertrain
3
Steering
2
Equipment
1
Seats
1
Brakes
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

3 recall campaigns cover the 1988 Dodge Shadow

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 1988 Dodge Shadow
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
08E-033Apr 14, 2008Part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353Suspension6,903Part replacement
92V-053Apr 13, 1992Automatic shoulder restraint systems can malfunction and become inoperativeSeat belts115,000Part replacement
88V-129Aug 1, 1988Front passenger seat lap belt retractor, which incorporates a child seat belt locking feature, may malfunctionSeat belts6,500Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Look up a VIN at NHTSA
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 1988 Dodge Shadow

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

12 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 6, 2004Failure Aug 6, 2004Seattle, WARack and pinion

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10087378
  2. Filed Aug 16, 2001Failure Aug 15, 2001Bluefield, WVGasoline, Air conditioner, Automatic transmission, Axle assembly

    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 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

    NHTSA complaint 750568
  3. Filed Aug 5, 1997Failure Jul 16, 1997Adelanto, CAAnchorage1 injured

    SEAT BELTS FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING AN INJURY.

    NHTSA complaint 520582
  4. Filed Jul 8, 1996Failure Jul 8, 1996Lake Fores, CAPower train

    ODOMETER FRAUD. *SD

    NHTSA complaint 506311
  5. Filed May 28, 1996Failure Mar 23, 1994Lake City, FLSeat belts

    THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM DOESN'T OPERATE OR RETRACT PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 984920
  6. Filed Dec 19, 1995Failure Dec 19, 1995Saugerties, NYSeat belts

    DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE, PROBLEM OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, DEALER IS LUBRICATING BELT BUT DOESN'T CORRECT PROBLEM. TT

    NHTSA complaint 976818
  7. Filed Sep 18, 1995North Belllm, NYEngine

    THE ENGINE GASKET WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES AND THE WHOLE HEAD WAS CRACKED. TT

    NHTSA complaint 972101
  8. Filed Aug 29, 1995Failure Jul 1, 1995Indianapolis, INBuckle assembly

    ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. TT

    NHTSA complaint 971225
  9. Filed Jul 19, 1995Failure Jun 17, 1995Baltimore, MDSeat belts

    RIGHT FRONT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT STUCK PRIOR TO RECALL (92V-053). *AK

    NHTSA complaint 484270
  10. Filed Apr 4, 1995Failure Nov 4, 1994Greensboro, NCAxle assembly

    REAR AXLE FAILED, CAUSING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS. *SKD

    NHTSA complaint 482973
  11. Filed Feb 9, 1995Columbas, GASeat belts

    THE SAFETY RESTRAINT MOTOR IS ON RECALL AND THE OWNERS DEALERSHIP ARE HAVING A PROBLEM GETIING THE PART. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

    NHTSA complaint 959813
  12. Filed Jan 21, 1995Failure Jan 21, 1995ELK River, MNGasolineFire

    VEHICLE FIRE. *AW

    NHTSA complaint 482745
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

3 NHTSA investigations on file

  • EA91043 Engineering analysis, Seat belts
    AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
    Opened Oct 30, 1991, closed Apr 20, 1992 ยท led to a recall
  • PE91082 Preliminary evaluation, Seat belts
    AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
    Opened Jun 5, 1991, closed Oct 30, 1991
  • PE91065 Preliminary evaluation, Steering
    STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSEN
    Opened Apr 16, 1991, closed Aug 30, 1991
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
All investigations
Service bulletins

No manufacturer communications on file

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.
About service bulletins