The 1993 Dodge Shadow has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 227,283 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS99V2120001999-08-06227,283 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER SEAT CAN FAIL AND SEPARATE.
Consequence
IF THE BOLT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH A HIGHER STRENGTH BOLT THAT INCLUDES A SELF LOCKING NYLON PATCH.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
1fires
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
9
2crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:REAR
9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8
7crashes4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
5
3fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
1fires
SEATS
5
2crashes3injuries
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
1crashes
Total complaints135
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 dodge shadow. The contact stated while exiting a residential garage, the driver seat collapsed backward into the rear seats. The dealer diagnosed that the top bolt was fractured and would need replacing. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired for the exact…”
“Hi what I have is a question regarding a loose vacuum hose on a 1993 dodge shadow. I was wondering if I could have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from it having been disconnected (intentionally) and me driving the car on and off for 2 years? *tr”
“Dt: caller's -husband purchased daughter a used car. The wiring on the car caught on fire, and the fumes and the smoke almost killed her. She had the car for 1 month when the plastic started bubbling and melting while daughter was driving on the interstate. This happened in the rear of the…”
“Consumer states that while driving at 35mph and no warning the vehicle will stall at which time the vehicle becomes difficult to operate. Dealer notified. Nlm”
“Engine over powers motor mounts and continuously rips them apart. *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****765219”
“Throttle stuck open, attempted to stop vehicle. A tree stopped the vehicle and engine continued to rev high. Brakes caught on fire as a result of trying to stop vehicle. *ak”
“Throttle stuck open, attempted to stop vehicle. A tree stopped the vehicle and engine continued to rev high. Brakes caught on fire as a result of trying to stop vehicle. *ak”
“Rattling in rear end with swaying that seemed to indicate rear shock failure, once a garage inspected it, the cracked rear trailing arm assembly was discovered. Dealership does not deny it's a common problem. Nice to know the rear end in a dodge is good for less than 50000 miles.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP03002 Opened 2003-05-07 · closed 2003-07-22
STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49…
InvestigationPE94069 Opened 1994-09-14 · closed 1995-01-31
INTERIOR FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE96008 Opened 1996-01-25 · closed 1996-06-28
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ99006 Opened 1999-05-13 · closed 2000-02-02
SEAT BACK FAILURE
THE SEAT RECLINER'S LOWER BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK CAUSING THE SET BACK TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 Dodge Shadow as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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