Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1992 Dodge Shadow: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1992 Dodge Shadow, most recently filed August 1999. Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Compare

Recalls (4)

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1992 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 ↗
Listed for 1992 Dodge Shadow. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 99V212000 Filed Aug 6, 1999

DAIMLERCHRYSLER/SEAT BACK BOLT

Seats · front assembly · recliner
Official NHTSA text
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.
Repair progress not yet reported227,283 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 99V212000
Listed for 1992 Dodge Shadow. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 97V078000 Filed May 10, 1997

CHRYSLER/SEAT BACK BOLT

Seats · front assembly · recliner
Official NHTSA text
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.
Repair progress not yet reported148,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 97V078000
Listed for 1992 Dodge Shadow. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 96V229000 Filed Nov 18, 1996

CHRYSLER/STEERING WHEEL

Steering · steering wheel/handle bar
Official NHTSA text
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.
Repair progress not yet reported675,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 96V229000
Listed for 1992 Dodge Shadow. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 92V015000 Filed Feb 14, 1992

STEERING:COLUMN SHAFT UPPER

Steering · steering wheel/handle bar
Official NHTSA text
Summary
THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.
Consequence
FRACTURES OF THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLINGBOLT RESULT IN A LACK OF COUPLING LOAD ON THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL.
Remedy
REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.
Repair progress not yet reported20,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 92V015000

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 (73)

73 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seats is mentioned most often.

14involved a crash
3involved a fire
9injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1992 Dodge Shadow, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 73.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1992 compares with other Shadow years

Best and worst Shadow years →
1988198919901991199219931994199519971998
This year (1992)Other yearsStill collecting reports

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

25
mpg combined
23
city
29
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,700
CO₂ tailpipe
356 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,612per year
$218per month
600gallons a year

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

1992 Dodge Shadow configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive23 / 29 / 25$2,700356
2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive20 / 29 / 23$2,900386
2.2 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive21 / 26 / 23$2,900386
2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive20 / 29 / 23$2,900386
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive20 / 25 / 22$3,050404
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive20 / 25 / 22$3,050404
3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200423
3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200423
2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$4,100444
3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$3,350444
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 23 / 20$4,100444
2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$4,100444
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 22 / 19$4,350468
3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive16 / 25 / 19$3,550468

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1992 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.

All Shadow years

Where to next

1992 Dodge Shadow FAQ

How many recalls does the 1992 Dodge Shadow have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 99V212000 (seat), 97V078000 (seat), 96V229000 (steering), 92V015000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1992 Dodge Shadow problems?

Owners filed 73 complaints with NHTSA. Seats (19), Air bags (12), Electrical system (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1992 Dodge Shadow get?

EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 23 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1992 Shadow compare with other years?

Among the 1988–1998 Dodge Shadow model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1993 the most (107). The 1992 drew 73. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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