AI Damage1986 Dodge Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Dodge Colt filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 22
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 95% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 5% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 21 complaints (95% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (5% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (5% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer received a recall regarding the seat belt buckles with a lifetime warranty. Consumer also stated there had always been problems with the back seat belt buckles. The problem was both back seat belt buckles were stuck in the seat.
Around october/november 1999, noticed seat belt won't clip into place, and if it does after several attempts, it's stuck inside. When press button "press" nothing happens.
Seat belt buckle recall repairs refused twice; once due to unavailability of parts, second time dealer received wrong parts, consumer will have to return a third time, has still not heard from dealer (95v-103-003).
Cranshaft broke, allowing harmonic balancer to fly across the interstate.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 20 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 22, about average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Dodge Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (77%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Dodge Colt?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Dodge Colt from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.