Model year record

1993 Dodge Colt recalls & problems

The 1993 Dodge Colt has 2 safety recalls and 107 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (102 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints107filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsMay 12, 1997

Front › Anchorage

Recall 97V07300224,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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 DROP OUT OF THE CHAMBER WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE BECOMING STUCK.
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.

Latches/locks/linkagesMay 12, 1997

Doors › Latch

Recall 97V06300246,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1993 Dodge Colt 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Colt

31mpg combined

City / highway	28 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,150/year to fuel

Colt

27mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

Colt

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Colt

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	102	2	3	108,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Clutch assembly	5	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Power adjust; Front assembly › Recliner	4	1	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	3	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield; Windshield wiper/washer	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch	1	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
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 PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,194 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Mar 14, 2003 · 67,194 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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 SHOULDER HARNESS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS AND IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. I AM AFRAID TO USE MY CAR, AFRAID WE'LL DIE IN A CRASH. PLEASE GET THE MANUFACTURER TO RECALL THIS AGAIN OR AT LEAST ALLOW ME ANOTHER "FIX" SO THAT WE CAN BE SAFE. TIA. *NM
Jun 1, 2002 · 108,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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 SEAT BELT REPAIRS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED BACK IN 1997. *JB
Dec 10, 2003 · 150,000 miles
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 TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HAVE FAILED. THE RECALL IS FOR FAILED RESTRAINTS WHICH MINE HAS DONE BUT THE MFG SAYS THE MOTOR IS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH THE MOTOR BELT WAS "STRIPPED" BECAUSE THE CABLES GOT STUCK IN THE TRACKS. THIS CAR IS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 53K MILES ON IT. THE SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL & STATE LAWS & SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MFG FOR ANY FAILURE OTHER THAN COLLISION OR INTENTIONAL DAMAGE. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK
May 15, 2002
Power train › Manual transmission
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 USED REPLACEMENT WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS! I FINALLY GOT A SHOP TO INSTALL A REBUILD KIT AT A TOTAL COST OF APROX $900. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRANS FROM WHAT I HEARD TRYING TO GET MINE REPAIRE.*AK
Nov 1, 2000
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 COVERED THE TRACK HARDWARE & THAT THE BELT MOTOR WAS STRIPPED. THEY REFUSED TO INSTALL THE RECALL PARTS THEY HAD WITHOUT REPLACING THE MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $600. I TURNED THIS DOWN & WAS CHARGED $35 FOR THEIR TROUBLE???. I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT CHRYSLER OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM! THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH SEAT BELTS THAT DON'T WORK. I THOUGHT SEATS BELTS HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIPS NO MATTER HOW THEY FAILED? SOMEBODY PLEASE DO SOMETHING…
May 20, 2002
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ON RECALL AND FIXED, AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TRACK FELL APART. *YH
Sep 7, 2001
Structure › Body
ROOF STRUTS IN VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP IN SUMMER OF 1999. TWO YEARS LATER, STRUTS WERE RUSTING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Jun 1, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATIONClosed
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR…
DP03002 · opened May 7, 2003 · closed Jul 22, 2003
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILUREClosedLed to recall 97V063002
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
EA96014 · opened Jun 28, 1996 · closed Jun 12, 1997
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILUREClosed
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE96007 · opened Jan 19, 1996 · closed Jun 28, 1996