The Dodge Monaco has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1990–1992. On average a defect was admitted 2.88 years after the car was built, the slowest took 8 years. The most recalled system is Service Brakes, Hydraulic (5 campaigns). Owners also filed 46 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Dodge Monaco
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 5 Read
What's wrong. The ABS hydraulic control unit can experience excessive brake actuator piston seal wear causing pump-motor deterioration
Risk. If this condition occurs, the ABS function could be lost and reduced power assist would be experienced during vehicle braking increasing the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will test the vehicle's anti-lock brake system and repair the vehicles if necessary. Also the warranty on all ABS components will be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles (except for the brake actuator piston assembly and the pump-motor assembly which will have a lifetime coverage). Owners will also be…
What's wrong. Rear brake tube routing is contacted by fuel tank heat shield when suspension is in full jounce position. This damages the brake fluid tube, causing a leak
Risk. Loss of fluid from half of the diagonally split brakehydraulic system affects braking capability, which could result in an accident
Fix. Modify heat shield to eliminate potential for shield contacting brake tube
What's wrong. The ABS hydraulic control unit can experience excessive brake actuator piston seal wear causing pump-motor deterioration
Risk. If this condition occurs, the ABS function could be lost and reduced power assist would be experienced during vehicle braking increasing the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will test the vehicle's anti-lock brake system and repair the vehicles if necessary. Also the warranty on all ABS components will be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles (except for the brake actuator piston assembly and the pump-motor assembly which will have a lifetime coverage). Owners will also be…
Visibility 1 Read
What's wrong. The end cap connecting the heat exchanger's core to the engine cooling system could rupture and allow hot coolant to escape into the passenger compartment
Risk. The coolant escaping into the passenger compartment could contact the driver's feet and injure the driver. Also, steam from the heater liquid will cloud on the window surfaces and impair the driver's vision. In either case, failure of the heater core end cap could result in a vehicle accident
Fix. A coolant temperature controlled heater core fluid bypass valve will be installed
What's wrong. The end cap connecting the heat exchanger's core to the engine cooling system could rupture and allow hot coolant to escape into the passenger compartment
Risk. The coolant escaping into the passenger compartment could contact the driver's feet and injure the driver. Also, steam from the heater liquid will cloud on the window surfaces and impair the driver's vision. In either case, failure of the heater core end cap could result in a vehicle accident
Fix. A coolant temperature controlled heater core fluid bypass valve will be installed
What's wrong. The end cap connecting the heat exchanger's core to the engine cooling system could rupture and allow hot coolant to escape into the passenger compartment
Risk. The coolant escaping into the passenger compartment could contact the driver's feet and injure the driver. Also, steam from the heater liquid will cloud on the window surfaces and impair the driver's vision. In either case, failure of the heater core end cap could result in a vehicle accident
Fix. A coolant temperature controlled heater core fluid bypass valve will be installed
Seat Belts 1 Read
What's wrong. The automatic shoulder belt systems can malfunction and become inoperative
Risk. The lack of passive restraints could increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle collision
Fix. Dealers will replace the system track and drive assembly on automatic shoulder belt systems which are currently inoperative and those systems when they become inoperative in the future
What's wrong. The automatic shoulder belt systems can malfunction and become inoperative
Risk. The lack of passive restraints could increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle collision
Fix. Dealers will replace the system track and drive assembly on automatic shoulder belt systems which are currently inoperative and those systems when they become inoperative in the future
What's wrong. The automatic shoulder belt systems can malfunction and become inoperative
Risk. The lack of passive restraints could increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle collision
Fix. Dealers will replace the system track and drive assembly on automatic shoulder belt systems which are currently inoperative and those systems when they become inoperative in the future
Electrical System 1 Read
What's wrong. Routing of battery main feed wiring may allow it to contact the air cleaner bracket and contnued contact may lead to an electrical short circuit
Risk. The electrical short caused by continuous contact couldresult in the ignition of the wiring insulation, and an underhood fire
Fix. The main feed on all involved vehicles will be rerouted and secured with tie straps away from the air cleaner bracket
Steering 1 Read
What's wrong. Lower intermediate steering shaft may separate at the rubber isolated coupling of the shaft
Risk. This could result in loss of steering control and an accident
Fix. Replace intermediate steering shaft with a shaft containing a restrained coupling
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 | 2.88 years |
| Slowest campaign | 8 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 25% |
| Campaigns on record | 9 |
Which Monaco 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Visibility | |
| 1991 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1990 | Steering |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is 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 |
Go deeper
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 Monaco have?
9 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1990–1992. 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 Monaco 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 2.88 years, and the slowest campaign came 8 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.