Total Complaints
31 filings
DODGE DAYTONA · model year
1990 DODGE DAYTONA
31 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990DODGEDAYTONA carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 6 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 1990 DAYTONA is power train:automatic transmission with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and air bags:frontal (2). 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 1990 DAYTONA, 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.
31
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020523ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
MANUFACTURERS DIAGRAMS SHOW THE THERMAL FLASHER LOCATED WITH THE FUSES ON THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. IT IS NOT THERE. I HAVE EMAILED DODGE REQUESTING INFORMATION ON WHERE IT IS PLACED. THEY SUGGESTED I PURCHASE A SERVICE MANUAL FOR THE CAR. WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT DO IF THE DIAGRAMS ARE WRONG TO BEGIN WITH? I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 800-992-1997 A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WERE NO DIAGRAMS THAT WOULD SHOW THE PARTS LOCATION. HE SAID THE PART IS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASH. I HAVE CHECKED BEHIND THE DASH AND COULD NOT FIND IT. MY TURNSIGNALS DO NOT WORK EXCEPT IN COLD WEATHER AND ONLY WHILE THE ENGINE IS COLD.*AK
20020523EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
MANUFACTURERS DIAGRAMS SHOW THE THERMAL FLASHER LOCATED WITH THE FUSES ON THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. IT IS NOT THERE. I HAVE EMAILED DODGE REQUESTING INFORMATION ON WHERE IT IS PLACED. THEY SUGGESTED I PURCHASE A SERVICE MANUAL FOR THE CAR. WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT DO IF THE DIAGRAMS ARE WRONG TO BEGIN WITH? I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 800-992-1997 A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WERE NO DIAGRAMS THAT WOULD SHOW THE PARTS LOCATION. HE SAID THE PART IS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASH. I HAVE CHECKED BEHIND THE DASH AND COULD NOT FIND IT. MY TURNSIGNALS DO NOT WORK EXCEPT IN COLD WEATHER AND ONLY WHILE THE ENGINE IS COLD.*AK
20010829FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM IGNITION AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010410FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE T VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF RECALL 89V237000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 467 WOULD APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE.*AK
20001002CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
MY GIRLFRIEND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE.SHE STATES THE BRAKES FAILED.ON IMPACT AIRBAG DID DEPLOY.MY CONCERN IS THE FAILING OF THE BRAKES AND HER GETTING HURT, I NOTICED MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE. MAYBE NOT ALL ALIKE BUT SIMULAR.I ALSO NOTICE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE DAYTONA AS I HAD WITH MINE AND TOLERATED.TACHOMETER NOT WORKING, SURGES AND RUNS ROUGH, THEN SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP.FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS, HYDRAULIC ROD PROBLEMS ON HATCH. *AK
20001002CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
MY GIRLFRIEND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE.SHE STATES THE BRAKES FAILED.ON IMPACT AIRBAG DID DEPLOY.MY CONCERN IS THE FAILING OF THE BRAKES AND HER GETTING HURT, I NOTICED MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE. MAYBE NOT ALL ALIKE BUT SIMULAR.I ALSO NOTICE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE DAYTONA AS I HAD WITH MINE AND TOLERATED.TACHOMETER NOT WORKING, SURGES AND RUNS ROUGH, THEN SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP.FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS, HYDRAULIC ROD PROBLEMS ON HATCH. *AK
20000911VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER PLACED CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR ACCELRATED OUT OF CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *ET
20000623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS TRANSMISSION WAS A DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES AT MY COAST (1400.00 DOLLARS) THIS WAS THE SAME TRANS.(THE 41T) THAT CHRYSLAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH. NOW THE TRANS. THAT THE TRANS SHOP PUT IN IS FAILING AT 117,00 MILES. I KNOW THET IM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE TROUBLES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RESTATUTION FOR CHRYLERSERS INABLILATY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLUM AND REPAIR IT RIGHT.*AK
20000117UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
19990217UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VAPOR LOCKING.
19981005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LEAK IN VALVE COVER GASKET. QCAW
19980531ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WILL RESTART WITH DIFFICULTY.
19970701ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LEAKING ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET. *AK
19961126SUSPENSION:FRONT
BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SUSPENSION TO THE FRAME LOOSENED WHENEVER GOING OVER A BUMP, THE CAR JUST MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THAT'S HOW THE BOLTS WERE NOTICED. *AK
19960919STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
VEHICLE'S REAR HYDRAULIC CYLNDER RODS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THIS OCCURS, ESPECIALLY, IN RAINY INCLEMENT WEATHER.*AK
19960722FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. *DH
19960604CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVING TO MOTHER'S HOUSE, AT STOP SIGN, VEHICLE WAS REARENDED, PASSENGER WENT INTO DASHBOARD, PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKE, REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKE. *AK
19960601POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP. *DSH
19960425POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP. *SD
19960425SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
TORSION BAR CRACKED. *SD
Compare 1990DODGEDAYTONA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 DODGE DAYTONA have?▼
The 1990 DODGE DAYTONA has 31 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 DODGE DAYTONA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 DODGE DAYTONA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1990 DODGE DAYTONA 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.