Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Dodge Colt, 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 97 | 81% |
| Power train | 6 | 5% |
| Structure | 3 | 3% |
| Seats | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE COLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CABLE WAS CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS FOR MY 1993 DODGE COLT IN 1997. I HAD THEM FIXED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THEY FAILED AGAIN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SLIDE FOR THE S
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE CABLE CORD CAME LOOSE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE CABLE CORD WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY SEA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THIS IS FOLLOW-UP TO ODI ID#543609. PASSIVE RESTRAINT ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILED & REPAIRS WHICH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE DRIVE MOTOR BELT FAILED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CALLS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED AGAIN AFTER RECALL WAS DONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I CALLED DEALER & TEHY SAID THEY WOULD REQUEST THE PARTS & REPAIR AGAIN. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CALLED ME & SAID THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED! BEARINGS WERE ALL PITTED & LOPSIDED. GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO GET A USED REPLACEMENT WITHOUT SUCCESS. SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THEY THINK EVERY ONE MADE HAS FAILED? I COULDN'T GET A USE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ON RECALL AND FIXED, AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TRACK FELL APART. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ON RECALL AND FIXED, AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TRACK FELL APART. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 Dodge Colt. 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.
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 TO
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT GUIDE RAIL THAT INCORPORATES A DOUBLE LIP DUST SEAL AND AN ANODIC OXIDE COATING.
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.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH WITH A SWITCH THAT UTILIZES REDUCED LUBRICATING GREASE, IMPROVED CONTACT SURFACE, AND A DIFFERENT RUBBER ISOLATION BOOT.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 97 of them (81%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
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.