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Dodge LANCER VIN Check

NHTSA holds 20 owner complaints on the Dodge LANCER from 14 production runs; the worst run has 3, the typical one 1.4.

NHTSA complaint records · 20 complaints · 14 runs · 1985–1989 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported LANCER run is 1B3BX48D6GN (1986 builds) with 3 complaints, 2.1× the typical run. Fuel system problems make up 18% of reports; 1986 is the worst model year at 1.6 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for LANCER model years 1985–1989.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Dodge LANCER has 14 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 55% of every LANCER complaint on file.

FIG.01·Dodge LANCER — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1B3BX48D6GN••••••19863——
1B3BX48D8GN••••••19863——
1B3BX48K2GN••••••19862——
1B3BX68E2HN••••••19872——
1B3BX48DXFN••••••19851——
1B3BX6837GN••••••19861——
1B3BX48D6N1••••••19861——
1B3BX68E5GN••••••19861—1
1B3BX48D2GN••••••19861——
133BX48E88G••••••19861——
1B3BX68K1HN••••••19871——
1B3BX68E6HN••••••19871—1
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 2 LANCER runs has 1 complaint or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Dodge LANCER the gap between build years is 1.2×: a 1986 car draws 1.6 complaints per run, a 1987 one 1.3.

FIG.02·Dodge LANCER — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
19871.343—
19861.6138—
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1986 at 1.6 complaints per run; lightest is 1987 at 1.3.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 18% of everything Dodge LANCER owners report: Fuel System, 5 of 20 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Dodge LANCER — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Fuel System5—3
Engine And Engine Cooling5——
Gasoline4—3
Service Brakes3——
Hydraulic3——
Steering3——
Power Train3——
Seats21—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 8 recall campaigns on the Dodge LANCER; the 6 below cover build years 1985 to 1989. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Dodge LANCER — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
08E033000Suspension1985–1989
88V105000Fuel System, Gasoline1985–1987
89V237000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine1989
89V038000Parking Brake1987
86V053000Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery1986
84V163000Seat Belts:front1985
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The LANCER against its rivals

The LANCER draws 1.4 complaints per production run; the BMW M5 1.5. That is the lowest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Dodge LANCER VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Dodge LANCER20141.45%
BMW M590611.53.3%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 20 reports on the Dodge LANCER, 5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Dodge LANCER — complaint severity
OutcomeDodge LANCERAll vehicles
Complaints filed201,115,966
Involved a crash1 (5%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire3 (15%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported158,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Dodge LANCER share of that is 20 complaints over 14 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the Dodge LANCER
Recalls14 campaignsFuel economy26 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems29 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space18 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1981–1989

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Dodge LANCER VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 20 NHTSA complaints from 14 LANCER runs and 8 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which LANCER production run has the most complaints?

1B3BX48D6GN, a 1986 build, with 3 complaints. The typical LANCER run has 1.4.

Which LANCER years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1986 is heaviest at 1.6 complaints per run and 1987 lightest at 1.3.

Does the LANCER get more complaints than the BMW M5?

No: 1.4 complaints per production run for the LANCER against 1.5 for the BMW M5.

How many LANCER complaints involve a crash?

5% of 20 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 3 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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