AI Damage1992 Dodge Shadow: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Dodge Shadow filed 73 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seats and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 73
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Seats 26% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Seats: 19 complaints (26% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 12 complaints (16% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (8% of all).
- Structure: 6 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
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 73 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 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 car is under recall for seatback failure, and the dealership would not make an appointment for the remedy. The owner got into an accident because of the recalled part.
While driving apprx.55-65 mph consumer swerved to avoid object in road, vehicle skidded, consumer lost control of steering, applied brakes but car continued to skid then hit head-on into a ditch bank. The air bag never deployed.
Just now received recall notice. Accident occurred prior to recall. Recall 96v229000.
Consumer had head-on collision with another auto while trying to avoid another car and driver's air bag did not deploy.
Frontal collision, impact 12:00 position, speed 30mph, driver's side airbag did not deploy.
Both front bucket seat back rest push forward whenever rear passenger push forward; back rest do not lock into place upon impact. Tt
Was hit from the rear front seat broke and went into the back seat. Tt
Material failure on front tires identical to those on suv's. Tires purchased in 1999.
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 4,331 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Shadow has 33 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 73, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- 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 Shadow?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seats, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 73. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (4%), knocking, grinding or other noise (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 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 1992 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 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.