PlainCars

DODGE · vehicle model

DODGE LANCER

59 NHTSA complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 1985–2002.

Complaints
59
Recalls
0
Model years
7

The DODGELANCER appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 59 consumer safety complaints and 0 recall campaigns across 7 model years (1985–2002). That averages roughly 8 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 20 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20021
20014
19952
19892
198717
198631
19852

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

5
’95
13
’96
7
’97
10
’98
5
’99
5
’00
2
’01
1
’02
2
’03
9
’06

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare DODGELANCER to Similar Vehicles

DODGELANCER vs DODGEB350 → DODGELANCER vs HYUNDAIXG 350 → DODGELANCER vs CHEVROLETYUKON → DODGELANCER vs JEEPWRANGLER X RHD 4X4 →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

EA24003Engineering AnalysisOpen2024-08-01

Vehicle entrapment

PE24006Preliminary EvaluationClosed2024-02-27

Back up camera failure

PE23008Preliminary EvaluationClosed2023-05-01

Vehicle entrapment

PE19014Preliminary EvaluationClosed2019-09-09

Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

AQ14003Audit QueryClosed2014-10-20

Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529

PE14022Preliminary EvaluationClosed2014-07-22

Alternator failure

PE13010Preliminary EvaluationClosed2013-04-26

Rear suspension knuckle fracture

PE08047Preliminary EvaluationClosed2008-07-25

2000-2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HOOD LATCH

PE07027Preliminary EvaluationClosed2007-05-29

ENGINE STALLING & ELECTRIC POWER LOSS

EA07003Engineering AnalysisClosed2007-02-14

SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILURE

View all 20 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the DODGE LANCER?▼
The DODGE LANCER has received 59 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1985 to 2002, with 0 recalls. That averages about 8 complaints per model year.
What years of DODGE LANCER are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the DODGE LANCER from 1985 to 2002 (7 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the DODGE LANCER have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many DODGE LANCER model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common DODGE LANCER complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the DODGE LANCER are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my DODGE LANCER has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. DODGE LANCER totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.