The Dodge LANCER has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1985–1989. On average a defect was admitted 9 years after the car was built, the slowest took 23 years. The most recalled system is Fuel System, Gasoline (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 20 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Dodge LANCER
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 Read
What's wrong. Fuel leakage may occur in low ambient temperature operation at connections of an engine compartment fuel supply hose to the pressure regulator and to the fuel rail
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage couldresult in a fire
Fix. Relocate pressure regulator; replace fuel supply with formed hose with revised routing configuration to ensure sealing integrity
What's wrong. Fuel leakage may occur in low ambient temperature operation at connections of an engine compartment fuel supply hose to the pressure regulator and to the fuel rail
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage couldresult in a fire
Fix. Relocate pressure regulator; replace fuel supply with formed hose with revised routing configuration to ensure sealing integrity
What's wrong. Fuel leakage may occur in low ambient temperature operation at connections of an engine compartment fuel supply hose to the pressure regulator and to the fuel rail
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage couldresult in a fire
Fix. Relocate pressure regulator; replace fuel supply with formed hose with revised routing configuration to ensure sealing integrity
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
What's wrong. The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket
Risk. The leakage of oil in the engine compartment could causea fire
Fix. Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket
Suspension 1 Read
What's wrong. Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. These parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above
Risk. The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. If the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. This may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a…
Fix. Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on may 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659
What's wrong. Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. These parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above
Risk. The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. If the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. This may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a…
Fix. Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on may 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659
What's wrong. Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. These parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above
Risk. The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. If the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. This may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a…
Fix. Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on may 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659
Parking Brake 1 Read
What's wrong. Parking brake mechanism component may disengage
Risk. This could result in loss of parking brake function;also, loose component could jam in the parking brake assembly
Fix. Replace parking brake assembly
Electrical System 1 Read
What's wrong. Battery cap vents may be partially or completely blocked with plastic flashing. Consequence of defect: a build up of internal gas pressure could occur which could result in case rupture, particularly during post charging. Should a person be in the vicinity of the battery when the case ruptures, they may be injured by the released gases and/or acid
Fix. Rework batteries by probing both vent orifices to eliminate any vent obstruction
Seats 1 Read
What's wrong. Drivers seat frame may experience fatigue failure at one (front/outboard) of its four attachments
Risk. This could result in some forward, backward or lateralmovement of seat, creating a potential for loss of control of the vehiclewhich could result in an accident
Fix. Replace drivers seat frame with a strenghtened version; also, reinforce power adjuster front crossmember to increase rigidity of seat attachment system
Seat Belts 1 Read
What's wrong. Required front center seat belt assembly was omitted. Vehicles are not in compliance with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 209, seat belt assemblies
Fix. Installation of missing center seat belt will be done without charge
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 9 years |
| Slowest campaign | 23 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 38.5% |
| Campaigns on record | 8 |
Which LANCER years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Suspension | |
| 1988 | Suspension | |
| 1987 | Suspension | |
| 1986 | Suspension | |
| 1985 | Suspension |
Check your own car
Each of these 8 campaigns covers a range of production, not every Dodge LANCER ever built — two cars of the same year can differ by a single week at the plant. Whether yours is among them, and whether the free repair was already carried out, is answered only by the number on its windscreen: check this LANCER by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
A campaign on one model says little about the brand as a whole — see how the Dodge LANCER compares in the full recall check by make and model →
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Dodge LANCER have?
8 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1985–1989. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my LANCER still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 9 years, and the slowest campaign came 23 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.
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