The Dodge Shadow has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1987–1994. On average a defect was admitted 7.05 years after the car was built, the slowest took 21 years. The most recalled system is Seats (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 335 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Dodge Shadow
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.
Seats 2 Read
What's 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
Fix. 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
What's 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
Fix. 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
What's 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
Fix. 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
Steering 2 Read
What's wrong. The steering wheel armature stamping can crack and separate from the center hub attachment to the steering column
Risk. If the steering wheel separates from the center hub attachment to the steering column, loss of control can occur increasing the risk of an accident
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering wheel for armature cracks in the center hub attachment area. Any steering wheels showing cracks will be replaced. All other vehicles will have a reinforcement plate installed to prevent steering wheel separation in the event cracking occurs
What's wrong. The zinc plating operation performed on the upper steering column shaft coupling bolt caused hydrogen embrittlement and breakage of the bolt
Risk. Fractures of the upper steering column shaft couplingbolt result in a lack of coupling load on the shaft and loss of steeringcontrol
Fix. Replace the zinc plated bolt with a phosphate plated bolt
What's wrong. The steering wheel armature stamping can crack and separate from the center hub attachment to the steering column
Risk. If the steering wheel separates from the center hub attachment to the steering column, loss of control can occur increasing the risk of an accident
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering wheel for armature cracks in the center hub attachment area. Any steering wheels showing cracks will be replaced. All other vehicles will have a reinforcement plate installed to prevent steering wheel separation in the event cracking occurs
Seat Belts 2 Read
What's wrong. The automatic shoulder restraint systems can malfunction and become inoperative
Risk. Seat occupants without shoulder restraints are subject toincreased risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or vehicle crash
Fix. Replace the system drive and rail assembly with revised components
What's wrong. Front passenger seat lap belt retractor, which incorporates a child seat belt locking feature, may malfunction
Risk. Seat belt lock would extract and child seat may move outof its restrained position
Fix. Replace front passenger seat lap retractor with a redesigned retractor
What's wrong. The automatic shoulder restraint systems can malfunction and become inoperative
Risk. Seat occupants without shoulder restraints are subject toincreased risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or vehicle crash
Fix. Replace the system drive and rail assembly with revised components
Air Bags 1 Read
What's wrong. The two air bag system front impact sensors may not be secured to their mounting brackets
Risk. Air bag will not deploy in a frontal collision if thefront impact sensors are not attached
Fix. Repair to assure proper attachment of front impact sensors to brackets
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. Front disc brake caliper guide pin bolts may not have been adequately torqued and could loosen
Risk. This could cause reduced braking effectiveness and couldresult in an accident
Fix. Properly torque front brake caliper guide pin bolts to 250 pounds
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
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
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
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
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 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
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 | 7.05 years |
| Slowest campaign | 21 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 57.9% |
| Campaigns on record | 12 |
Which Shadow 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Seats | |
| 1993 | Seats | |
| 1992 | Steering | |
| 1991 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1990 | Suspension | |
| 1989 | Suspension | |
| 1988 | Suspension | |
| 1987 | Suspension |
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 Shadow have?
12 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1987–1994. 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 Shadow 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 7.05 years, and the slowest campaign came 21 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.