1990 Dodge Shadow

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Dodge Shadow, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	14	29%
Engine and engine cooling	9	19%
Exterior lighting	4	8%
Electrical system	4	8%
Steering	3	6%
Suspension	3	6%
Power train	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Service brakes	2	4%
Engine and engine cooling	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

MY DAUGHTER HIT A POT HOLE, HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED GIVING HER A VERY BRUISED FACE, SWOLLEN, BLACK EYE, NUMEROUS SCRATCHES AND CUTS AND A BURNED HAND. HER CAR IS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL EXCEPT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED. E
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

RECALL 89V237000/ ENGINE:GASKET:VALVE COVER: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH UNDER THE HOOD, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG FROM AN IMPACT OF 15 MPH. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS ON DRIVER'S LEFT HAND/RIGHT WRIST/CHIN, AND NECK. ALSO, RECEIVED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES. DEALER CONTACTED. *
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ,TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,DRIVER MADE A QUICK STOP AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS AND BRUISES ON FACE AND CHEST. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE, AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER'S JAW WAS INJURED, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

THERE IS SMOKE COMING OFF OF THE ENGINE FROM LEAKING OIL. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED BURNS TO ARMS, STOMACH, CHEST, CHEST AND A BROKEN STERNUM.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE TURNED YELLOW, NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Dodge Shadow. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Suspension 08E033000

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

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

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:engine 89V237000

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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	47	below average
Efficiency	45	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 43% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 82% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Dodge Shadow?

Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 14 of them (29%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Dodge Shadow reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1990 Dodge Shadow last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Dodge Shadow?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.