Total Complaints
44 filings
DODGE COLT · model year
1987 DODGE COLT
44 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987DODGECOLT carries 44 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 COLT is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 13 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (4) and equipment:appliance:air conditioner (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1987 COLT, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
44
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 13 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031017TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN A 5" CHUNK OF TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND EXPOSED THE STEEL BELTS IN THE TIRE. THE AIR STARTED TO LEAK OUT. *AK SOME TIME AFTER THE TREAD SEPARATED THE TIRE STARTED TO LOSE AIR. THE TREAD WEAR PATTERN INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MAY HAVE BEEN "SOMEWHAT" UNDER-INFLATED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY SO AND NOT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE TIRE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. THE TIRE MODEL HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. (CORDOVAN GRAND PRIX RADIAL G/T) *SCC *JB
20010419POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HELLO!I PURCHASED THIS 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA WAGON USED IN 1999 AND INITIALLY WHEN PURCHASED THE AUTO/TRANSMISSION FLOATED OUT OF GEAR IN A BUSY AREA AND WOULD NOT MOVE,UNTIL I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER,AND FINALLY IT JUMPED INTO GEAR.IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I MUST SIT IN CAR AT AN IDLE AT LEAST 5MINUTES BEFORE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK!SECOND PROBLEM IS MANIFOLD IS LEAKING AND ALSO MOTOR OIL IS LEAKING UNTO MANIFOLD AND CAUSES A LOT OF SMOKE UNDER ENGINE AND OUT THE EXHAUST.I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RECALLS ALREADY ON SOME MODELS OF THE 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA SW ACCORDING TO ALLDATA.COM.THE WHOLE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED(MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST) AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL FLOAT OUT OF CAR ANYWHERE!!THE EMMISION IS VERY BAD AT THIS TIME DO TO SMOKE FROM CAR!*AK
20000223ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE THROUGH VENTS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD OF CARBON MONOXIDE FOR THOSE INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK
19991029EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
19991029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
19991029EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
19991029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
19991029EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. MJS
19991029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SMOKES AND DID NOT PASS INSPECTION. MJS
19990419CrashPOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS IN A LIGHT REAR END ACCIDENT, AND AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING REAR AXLE BROKE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19980429ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
HOLE IN EXHAUST PIPE.
19971106SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS.
19970821SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL REPAIR NOT PERFORMED ON FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
19970820SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC IN REAR AND CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD DEGRADED. THIS VARIATION IS CAUSED BY POSSIBLE CONTACT OF SUN RAYS. *AK
19970527FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP LEAK.
19970527POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
19970527FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE INOPERATIVE.
19970527ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DISTRIBUTOR CAP FAILED.
19970527ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MAIN OIL SEAL FAILED.
19970527ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED.
Compare 1987DODGECOLT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 DODGE COLT have?▼
The 1987 DODGE COLT has 44 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 DODGE COLT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 DODGE COLT is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM and EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER.
Is the 1987 DODGE COLT safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.