1987 Dodge COLT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 19 complaints (47.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 4; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 743602 · 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)
HELLO!I PURCHASED THIS 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA WAGON USED IN 1999 AND INITIALLY WHEN PURCHASED THE AUTO/TRANSMISSION FLOATED OUT OF GEAR IN A BUSY AREA AND WOULD NOT MOVE,UNTIL I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER,AND FINALLY IT JUMPED INTO GEAR.IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I MUST SIT IN CAR AT AN IDLE AT LEAST 5MINUTES BEFORE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK!SECOND PROBLEM IS MANIFOLD IS LEAKING AND ALSO MOTOR OIL IS LEAKING UNTO MANIFOLD AND CAUSES A LOT OF SMOKE UNDER ENGINE AND OUT THE EXHAUST.I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RECALLS ALREADY ON SOME MODELS OF THE 1987 DOD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965394 · 1995-05-16 (May 16, 1995)
WHILE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEARS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968928 · 1995-07-15 (July 15, 1995)
PURCHASE NEW 7/87 DRIVE CAR FOR TWO YEAR WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND CAR STALL NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THE ROTOR WAS REPLACE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960185 · 1995-02-17 (February 17, 1995)
SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK IN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960185 at NHTSA ↗