AI Damage1987 Dodge Shadow: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Dodge Shadow filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 42% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Seats 17% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (42% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Seats: 2 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 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.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Rear-ended in accident and back of driver's seat broke. Please describe details.
Failure on the driver side seat, the consumer was involved in a rear end collison and the driver side seat reclined to the rear of the vehicle, also broke.
The consumer states that the vehicle caught on fire while parked.
Fuel injectors failed, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. Dealer had replaced the ecm and the wiring harness connector, the dealer found recall 88v105 regarding the fuel system, however found this vehicle's vin was not included.
Fuel is leaking in the carburetor, causing the vehicle to catch on fire.
3 out 5 seat belt buckles have failed. Please describe details. Tt
Fuel hose overheated and sprayed gas out of hose onto engine, causing engine to smoke.
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 Shadow has 33 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Dodge Shadow?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%), overheating, coolant loss (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Dodge Shadow?
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 1987 Dodge Shadow 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 1987 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.