Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1991 Dodge Shadow. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗DAIMLERCHRYSLER/SEAT BACK BOLT
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER SEAT CAN FAIL AND SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- 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.
CHRYSLER/SEAT BACK BOLT
- Summary
- THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAN FAIL AND SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- 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.
CHRYSLER/STEERING WHEEL
- Summary
- THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG IMPACT
- Summary
- THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
- Consequence
- AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.
- Remedy
- REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.
BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:DISC:CALIPER
- Summary
- FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (91)
91 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seats is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 91 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 16 | 17.6% |
| Air bags | 14 | 15.4% |
| Structure | 10 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 9.9% |
| Steering | 8 | 8.8% |
| Power train | 7 | 7.7% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 7.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 7.7% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6.6% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 6.6% |
How 1991 compares with other Shadow years
Best and worst Shadow years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 12 | 2 |
| 1988 | 12 | 2 |
| 1989 | 33 | 2 |
| 1990 | 40 | 1 |
| 1991 | 91 | 5 |
| 1992 | 73 | 4 |
| 1993 | 107 | 1 |
| 1994 | 94 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1991 Shadow for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1991 Dodge Shadow FAQ
How many recalls does the 1991 Dodge Shadow have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 99V212000 (seat), 97V078000 (seat), 96V229000 (steering), 90V194000 (air bag), 90V162000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1991 Dodge Shadow problems?
Owners filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. Seats (16), Air bags (14), Structure (10) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1991 Dodge Shadow get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 31 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1991 Shadow compare with other years?
Among the 1987–1997 Dodge Shadow model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1993 the most (107). The 1991 drew 91. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.