AI Damage1992 Dodge Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Dodge Colt filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 50% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 3 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 7 complaints (50% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (7% 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
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
The passenger seatbelt does not work. The seatbelt will not slide back and forth due to cable popping out. Please add vin.
Glass was scratching badly, and was getting worse. It was white in color. Not able to see out of windows. Not visible to drive.
Harmonic balancer bolt "backed" out - was advised it was manufacture defect but because it was out of warranty it would not be covered - was advised that if they had to cover every manufacture defect that was out of warranty that they would "go broke"- I had to replace the engine with a '93 engine (compatible w/ my…
Automatic seat belt does not retract from the retracting mechasim , causing it to become inoperable. Please give any further details.
Exhaust manifold is prone too wide/cracking, causing the exhaust to escape into the fresh air intake and then into the vehicle. When searching for replacement, difficult to find one without the same problem.
Driver's side seat belt would not release to be used. Belt will retract when door is unlocked. Belt is only triggered by door closing or opening. Sometimes the door has to be repeatedly opened and closed to get the belt to cross over chest. * yh
The passenger's side shoulder belt somtimes tightens up when in use . Please describe .
Manual tranmission failure, has been replaced on two ocassions, there is stripped gear causing failure. 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 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 20 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 14, below 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.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Dodge Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, latches, locks, linkages. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (29%), windows, sunroof (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 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 1992 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 1992 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.