Check a VIN

1993 Dodge Shadow problems

The most common problem on the 1993 Dodge Shadow is transmission and drivetrain. It has 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Shadow model year.

Typical year2.7x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
107
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
41
Worst area
Transmission
Fuel economy
20-26mpg

The worst 1993 Dodge Shadow problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1993 Dodge Shadow

Fire or smoke 8

Recalls 1

Seats: front assembly: reclinerReported August 6, 1999 · 227,283 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower seat back attaching bolt on the driver seat can fail and separate.
Risk
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.

Recall number 99V212000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 1993 Dodge Shadow

Defect investigations

Steering column separationOpened May 7, 2003, closed July 22, 2003

Mr. Larry a. Sackey submitted a petition to the federal safety agency by letter dated april 18, 2003, requesting that agencyfurther investigate the defective collapsible steering shaft system on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the daimlerchrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr ? 30120(g), the federal safety agency has decided to limit the scope of the petition vehicles to 1993-1995 models, excluding the 1993 jeep grand cherokee and 1994-1995 dodge ram series trucks that were recalled (93v210 & 96v230) for steering column failure.if the analysis of these vehicles had identified a potential problem, the scope could have been expanded in an investigation.a review of odi's data base shows no recent complaints and a lack of a complaint trend concerning the subject issue on the subject vehicles as a whole or by individual models.therefore, the petition is denied.for details, see federal register notice volume 68, no. 130, july 8, 2003.

DP03002

Seat back failureOpened May 13, 1999, closed February 2, 2000

The seat recliner's lower bolts can fatigue and break causing the set back to collapse backward without warning.

RQ99006

Safety blt latch operationOpened January 25, 1996, closed June 28, 1996

There is no summary currently available

PE96008

Interior firesOpened September 14, 1994, closed January 31, 1995

There is no summary currently available

PE94069

Technical service bulletins for the 1993 Dodge Shadow 41

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 41 bulletins for the 1993 Dodge Shadow

1993 Dodge Shadow fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.2L 4‑cylFWD21-2326-2923-26
2.5L 4‑cylFWD21-2226-2923-25
3.0L 6‑cylFWD17-1824-2620-21

What 1993 Dodge Shadow owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 11, 2011 · Seats · 196,700 miles · AK

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 same failure six years prior under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v212000 (seats:front assembly:recliner). The manufacturer was contacted who offered no assistance because the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall. The VIN was not available and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 196,700.

Filed Nov 9, 2007 · Fuel system · WA

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?

Filed Oct 14, 2005 · Electrical, Lights · 65,000 miles · IL · fire

Dt: the vehcile is a 1993 dodge shadow es. The problem started sometime in march 2001. The contact had just pulled into a fuel station and put the vehicle into park, when she noticed black smoke coming from underneath the dashboard in he steering wheel area. She took the vehicle to a dealership. They found the ignition switch had melted the wiring harness. They replaced the wire to the parking switch and the proportianal valve, ignition switch, and wiring connector to the switch. They rebuild the transmission also, because it was slipping they added new clutches. In march of 2005 the vehicle would not start. The contact had the battery replaced and it still would not start. She had taken it to the shop and found that there was a problem with the inline fuses. Then on july 8, 2005 after the vehicle had been off for about 15 to 20 minutes it was still hot. They took it home and parked the vehicle. About an hour or more later it would not start. The dome light, head lights, and all the dashboard lights were on. The noise when opening the door was still on. All the needles on the gauges were going in circles. Then it went dead. Took the vehicle to the mechanic and it is still there. They can not find why it keeps blowing fuses.

Filed Jun 13, 2005 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · MI · fire

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 vehicle.

Filed Sep 30, 2003 · Seats · 140,000 miles · NJ · crash

While at a stop another vehicle went out of control and slammed into consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, driver's side seat came off of the frame.

Filed Sep 13, 2002 · Engine · PA

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

Filed Aug 5, 2002 · Engine · FL

Engine over powers motor mounts and continuously rips them apart. *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****765219

Filed Jul 15, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · NY · crash · fire · 1 injury

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.

Filed Nov 21, 2001 · Suspension · OH

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.

Filed Oct 30, 2001 · Suspension · NY

While traveling heard a hard noise. Vehicle was serviced and technician stated rear sway bar had broken and needed to be replaced. *ak

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1993 Dodge Shadow before you buy

Compare the 1993 Dodge Shadow

Other model years

199019911992199319941995199719981999

Questions about the 1993 Dodge Shadow

Is the 1993 Dodge Shadow reliable?

Owners have filed 107 complaints about the 1993 Dodge Shadow, 2.7 times a typical Shadow model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1993 Dodge Shadow?

Transmission and drivetrain, with 16 complaints. Next is engine (14).

How many recalls does the 1993 Dodge Shadow have?

1 recall, covering seats.

What gas mileage does the 1993 Dodge Shadow get?

Official estimates for the 1993 Dodge Shadow range from 20 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21-23 city and 26-29 highway.

Share your experience with the 1993 Dodge Shadow

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1993 Dodge Shadow?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN