Total Complaints
31 filings
DODGE LANCER · model year
1986 DODGE LANCER
31 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986DODGELANCER carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 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 1986 LANCER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 4 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper (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 1986 LANCER, 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
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1986 DODGE LANCER ALTERNATOR, TIRE, AND BATTERY PROBLEMS. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP. *NM
20060818TIRES
1986 DODGE LANCER ALTERNATOR, TIRE, AND BATTERY PROBLEMS. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP. *NM
20060818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1986 DODGE LANCER ALTERNATOR, TIRE, AND BATTERY PROBLEMS. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP. *NM
20060818FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1986 DODGE LANCER ALTERNATOR, TIRE, AND BATTERY PROBLEMS. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP. *NM
20060724ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A USED VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND HAS HAD MANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND THE FRONT LEFT ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED; TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND A NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE OF JULY 15TH OF 2006.*AK UPDATED 10/6/2006 - AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WONT STAY UP. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Mileage: 170,401
20060724ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A USED VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND HAS HAD MANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND THE FRONT LEFT ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED; TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND A NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE OF JULY 15TH OF 2006.*AK UPDATED 10/6/2006 - AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WONT STAY UP. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Mileage: 170,401
20060724VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A USED VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND HAS HAD MANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND THE FRONT LEFT ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED; TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND A NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE OF JULY 15TH OF 2006.*AK UPDATED 10/6/2006 - AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WONT STAY UP. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Mileage: 170,401
20060724INTERIOR LIGHTING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A USED VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND HAS HAD MANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND THE FRONT LEFT ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED; TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND A NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE OF JULY 15TH OF 2006.*AK UPDATED 10/6/2006 - AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WONT STAY UP. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Mileage: 170,401
20060724SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A USED VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND HAS HAD MANY IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND THE FRONT LEFT ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED; TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND A NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE OF JULY 15TH OF 2006.*AK UPDATED 10/6/2006 - AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WONT STAY UP. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
Mileage: 170,401
20001025POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHIICLE TO SHAKE, CLUTH CHATTER WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE, WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR CANNOT BE PUT INTO FIRST GEAR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY STOPPED. *ET
20001024POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHIICLE TO SHAKE, CLUTH CHATTER WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE, WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR CANNOT BE PUT INTO FIRST GEAR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY STOPPED. *ET
20001017SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
CALIPER PINS ON BOTH SIDES WERE BENT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DURING A BRAKE PAD CHANGE. *ET
20001017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE CAUSING ENGINE TO ROCK BACK & FORTH WHILE SWITCHED BETWEEN REVERSE & DRIVE, ENGINE SHOOK SEVERELY & BANGED UNDER SIDE OF HOOK WHEN IN REVERSE. *ET
20001017STEERING:LINKAGES
POWER STEERING MOUNTING BRACKET CONNECTION AT THE ENGINE BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE. *ET
19991209ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK THICK SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST UNIT. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE UP. *AK
19991209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK THICK SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST UNIT. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE UP. *AK
19990830FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE SPRAYED ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, FIREWALL AND HOOD PAD. NLM
19990117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. FLUID RETURN VALVE IN MASTER CYLINDER PLUGGED. REPLACED PADS, ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER.
19981030EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE; GETS EXTREMELY HOT, AND SMELLS HORRIBLE (HOT ELECTRICAL SMELL), MELTED PLASTIC CONNECTOR FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH, CAUSING PARKING & DASH LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON (HAZARD).
19981030VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WELDS BETWEEN HEATING CORE AND HOSE ATTACHINGTUBING FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO VEHICLE.ALSO, FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PINS WERE BENT/WHEN VEHICLE PUT INTO REVERSE,IT SHAKES/POWER STEERING MOUNTING BRACKET BECAME LOOSE, AND FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH.
Compare 1986DODGELANCER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 DODGE LANCER have?▼
The 1986 DODGE LANCER has 31 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 DODGE LANCER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 DODGE LANCER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER.
Is the 1986 DODGE LANCER 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.