Total Complaints
113 filings
DODGE SHADOW · model year
1991 DODGE SHADOW
113 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991DODGESHADOW carries 113 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 21 crashes, 2 fires, 21 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1991 SHADOW is seats:front assembly:recliner with 10 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (10) and air bags:frontal (9). 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 1991 SHADOW, 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.
113
Complaints
21
Crashes
2
Fires
21
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
21 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 |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 10 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 10 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 9 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 6 |
| SEATS | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20040402SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONTAMINATED BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH WOULD COST $800-$1500. TO REPAIR. *PH THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS HOLDING THEM UP AT LOWER SPEEDS. BOTH SERVICE FACILITIES STATED THE WRONG OIL WAS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM INSTEAD OF BRAKE FLUID. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. *SC
20030911SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEMS WITH 1991 DODGE SHADOW. PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT LOWER SPEEDS.*MR TWO DIFFERENT CERTIFIED MECHANICS STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSHED, AND TIRE ROTATION. *PH *JB
20030319CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
20020604CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED BODILY INJURIES. *AK
20020604CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING WAS INVOLVED IN IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SNAPPED IN HALF, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES.*AK
20020415CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HAD SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED ACCELERATOR AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKES DIDNOT STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, HITTING VEHICLES AND A GAS PUMP. VEHICLE TOTALED, DRIVER INJURED. *AK
20020415CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HAD SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED ACCELERATOR AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKES DIDNOT STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, HITTING VEHICLES AND A GAS PUMP. VEHICLE TOTALED, DRIVER INJURED. *AK
20010725EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE OBSERVED THAT EVERY DODGE SHADOW HAS CLOUDY HEADLIGHT COVERS WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE EFFETIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. . OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THE GLASS SEALED BEAMS WITH THE OPAQUE AND CLOUDY PLASTIC HEADLIGHT BEAMS B
20010507CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WAS TRAVLING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN CROSSING INTO A NOTHER LANE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
20010504STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20010504STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE TOP LEAKS WATER BAD WHEN I WASH THE CAR OR IT RAINS.IT GOES DOWN THE WINDOWS AND ON TO THE SEATS IN FRONT.*AK
20010503STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20010503STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE TOP LEAKS WATER BAD WHEN I WASH THE CAR OR IT RAINS.IT GOES DOWN THE WINDOWS AND ON TO THE SEATS IN FRONT.*AK
20001026SEATS
DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL (#729) ON DODGE SHADOWS INVOLVING THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN ON 10/12/00 TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL AT 220 RTE. 22 WEST, GREEN BROOK, NJ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR IN WHILE I WAITED, AND BROUGHT IT OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES, GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THE JOB WAS DONE. TODAY, IT IS 10/21/00 AND I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ORIGINAL IS STILL IN IT'S PLACE. I WAS ISSUED A RECEIPT, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CLEARLY, I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUD FROM A VERY LARGE AUTO DEALER WHO HAS COMPROMISED MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, AND THOSE ON THE ROADS WHO MIGHT COLLIDE WITH ME IF THE RECALLED ITEM WERE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE STUPIDITY AND NEGLIGENCE OF AN AUTO DEALER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND IF YOU NEED YOU CAN CALL ME OR MY SON HUGO CAPELLO AT WORK AT (732) 667-2081. THANK YOU.
20000922FatalSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
ON SEPTEMBER 17,2000 @9:27AM MY BREAKS GAVE OUT ON ME COMPLETLY, 2HOURS LATER THEY WERE WORKING AGAIN, THE BRAKE LIGHT DID COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WENT AWAY.
20000831CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAME OUT UNEXPECTEDLY & KNOCKED THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS. VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER DUE TO A SUDDEN STOP.*AK
20000706STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. IN THE SUMMER MONTHS DURING HOT WEATHER THE SEALS SHRINKS, AND THEY DON'T MET TO KEEP WATER FROM COMING IN OVER THE DOOR.*AK
20000223ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED 3X AND DECREASED SPEED. ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING 4X. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.
20000223UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED 3X AND DECREASED SPEED. ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING 4X. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.
19991228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FLOODS ITS SELF AND SHUTS DOWN AT WILL. DEALER CLAIMS PROBLEM CAN'T BE REPAIRED. *AK
Compare 1991DODGESHADOW to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 DODGE SHADOW have?▼
The 1991 DODGE SHADOW has 113 NHTSA complaints, 21 crashes, 2 fires, 21 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 DODGE SHADOW?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 DODGE SHADOW is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1991 DODGE SHADOW 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.