Dodge Colt recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Dodge Colt, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 19
Total Complaints 328
Years Covered 1971–1996

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Dodge Colt, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Seats and restraints

3 campaigns · Years: 1986–1993

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Brakes

2 campaigns · Years: 1971, 1977

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 77V202000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  • 71V175000 · Parking brake: Linkage and cable

Fuel and emissions

2 campaigns · Years: 1977–1978

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Other

1 campaign · Years: 1971

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Powertrain

1 campaign · Years: 1976

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):

Structure

1 campaign · Years: 1971

These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.

Official notices (evidence):

Visibility and lighting

1 campaign · Years: 1980

These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Dodge Colt in NHTSA complaint data are Seat belts, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Seat belts:front:anchorage.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
1996 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Engine and engine cooling:cooling system.
1994 0 23 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags:frontal, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components.
1993 2 121 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:retractor, Seat belts:front:anchorage.
1992 2 14 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:retractor, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1991 1 17 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.
1990 1 14 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1989 1 37 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control.
1988 1 28 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Seat belts:front:anchorage, Power train:manual transmission.
1987 1 44 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system, Equipment:appliance:air conditioner.
1986 1 24 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Seat belts, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1985 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1984 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:rear/other.
1982 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Exterior lighting:headlights:switch.
1980 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1978 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1976 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1971 3 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Seat belts , Fuel system and Latches/locks/linkages

Show recall evidence by year

1993

  • Latches/locks/linkages: Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V063002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Excess lubrication can cause the rubber door latch switch cover to deform, and the door latch switch to malfunction, so that the shoulder belt anchorage would remain at the a-pillar when the door was closed.
  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V073002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The guide rail on the driver's side contains a covered cable and also an angled belt guide at the top end of the webbing. The combination of these factors can lead, over time, to the cable's movement exerting abrading force to the lower edges of the cable's chamber, sufficient to cause the cable

1992

  • Latches/locks/linkages: Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V063002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Excess lubrication can cause the rubber door latch switch cover to deform, and the door latch switch to malfunction, so that the shoulder belt anchorage would remain at the a-pillar when the door was closed.
  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V073002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The guide rail on the driver's side contains a covered cable and also an angled belt guide at the top end of the webbing. The combination of these factors can lead, over time, to the cable's movement exerting abrading force to the lower edges of the cable's chamber, sufficient to cause the cable

1991

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1990

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1989

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1988

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1987

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1986

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1980

  • Interior lighting: Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V010000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The ashtray bulb socket in the involved vehicles may have been manufactured with materials that do not possess the required electrical resistance qualities. When the ashtray bulb is lit for an extended period of time, the socket is subject to overheating.

1978

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel pump: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V149000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The possibility of engine compartment fuel leakage exists due to an inadequate staking operation that may allow fuel to leak by the fuel pump diaphragm and discharge from the pump body through the pump breather hole.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V019000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Fuel tank support straps on some of the involved vehicles may rust if exposed to road salt used for snow and ice removal.

1977

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (77V202000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 106, "Brake hoses". These front hydraulic brake hoses may fail under pressure of brake application due to use of improperly processed material. Partial loss of braking capability and increase in stopping distances w
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V019000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Fuel tank support straps on some of the involved vehicles may rust if exposed to road salt used for snow and ice removal.

1976

1971

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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