AI Damage1990 Dodge Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Dodge Colt filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 75% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 9 complaints (75% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (8% 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 · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
At time of crash driver was wearing his seat belts, the shoulder belt had to be cut off of occupant, and the lap belt detached itself during impact.
Vehicle was idling high then suddenly accelerated causing the vehicle to cross the road, fly into the air and flip 2 1/2 times landing on the hood. Nlm
Owner thinks that the fire started under the hood. Also owner states that when the door is shut the automatic shoulder belt opens and closes which causes the driver to be insecure in the seat.can cause a safety concern. Under recal 95v102003.
Automatic shoulder belt will not retract to its starting position, while the vehicle is off.
Vehicles driver and passenger has broken welds on beam area. Tt
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 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 20 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Dodge Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, electrical system, structure. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (25%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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.