1991 Dodge Shadow Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around seat hardware and air bag behavior, with brake and steering problems also recurrent. Most reports carry no mileage figure and read as failures on an older vehicle: seat backs that come loose or fail to latch, air bags that either failed to deploy or deployed unexpectedly, and brakes that faded at low speed. Several reports describe work done or promised by a dealer without the underlying part being replaced.

1. 1
   Seats

   Driver and passenger seat back bolts/backrest failure

   • 22 complaints (25%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners describe the driver or passenger seat back coming loose from its lower attachment, or a backrest collapsing backward with an occupant in it. In some reports the seat back moves forward on impact and the occupant is thrown against interior trim. Others describe a seat that will not latch back into place after being folded to let someone into the rear, so the back can be leaned forward while the car is being driven. Complaints also mention recall repair work that appeared not to have been performed, with the original bolt still in place afterward. Reported across a wide age range with no consistent mileage figure in the sample, often after years of use and folding of the seat back.

   Recall 99V212000Recall 97V078000

   What to check: Fold and unfold the front seat backs and confirm they latch firmly, then inspect the lower seat back bolt on the driver's seat for replacement under the seat back recalls. Ask for documentation that the recall work was actually completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #734872, filed 2000-10

   “Driving to airport about 45mph applied brakes to avoid hitting another vehicle; no brakes; turned off road to another; had flashers going & honking horn; another vehicle rearended Shadow & driver's seatback went forward; threw driver into side window bar; driver passed out; was emergency room.”

   NHTSA complaint #814098, filed 1997-07
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal fade or loss of braking at low speed

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 7.9 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe the pedal going to the floor or brakes feeling like something is holding them at lower speeds, sometimes with braking returning on its own later. One report says both the accelerator and the brakes failed to stop the car, resulting in a crash. Others describe contaminated fluid or wrong fluid in the hydraulic system, quoted at significant repair cost, and mechanics advising the car not to be driven until repaired. Mostly reported at lower speeds; no mileage figures appear in the sample.

   Recall 90V162000

   What to check: Check brake fluid condition and service history, and have the front caliper guide pin bolts inspected against the caliper recall. Ask whether the hydraulic system has ever been flushed or contaminated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Contaminated brake system which would cost $800-$1500. To repair. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10065116, filed 2004-03

   “Problems with 1991 Dodge Shadow. Problems with brakes at lower speeds. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034526, filed 2003-08
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag did not deploy, or deployed unexpectedly

   • 13 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 6.8 yrs old
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners report collisions in which the air bag failed to deploy at moderate speed, and separate cases where the driver air bag inflated without a crash, in one case leaving the driver briefly unconscious. One report describes facial and neck burns after deployment. Several of these complaints were filed without any contact with the manufacturer or dealer. Described in crashes at roughly 25 to 55 mph; no mileage pattern is visible in the sample.

   Recall 90V194000

   What to check: Ask whether the front impact sensor recall was completed and whether the air bag warning lamp behaves normally on start-up. A warning light that stays on or flickers is worth having diagnosed before relying on the system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #8010980, filed 2002-06

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #887591, filed 2001-05

Buying note. On a car this old, the practical checks are the seat back latches and bolt, brake pedal feel and fluid condition, and whether the seat, steering and caliper recalls were actually completed with paperwork. Because many complaints involve safety hardware with no warning beforehand, a pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 28 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.