Dodge COLT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
172 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
87,597 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1971 to 1994 model years. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 172 complaints (31.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 54 |
| Seat Belts | 41 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 17 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 14 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 54; Seat Belts: 41; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 17; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 14; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 168 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 | 68 |
| 1996 | 59 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 68; 1996: 59; 2000: 22; 2001: 11; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 972862 · 1995-10-03 (October 3, 1995)
CONSUMER WIFE WAS DRIVING WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE THERE WAS NO BRAKE IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER IS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964664 · 1995-05-02 (May 2, 1995)
STATED THAT BRAKES HAVE PROBLEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964664 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 980971 · 1996-03-20 (March 20, 1996)
WHEN TRAVELING AT MODERATE SPEEDS TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND VEHICLE STALLS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980971 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 ↗
Owner report 10094739 · 2004-09-30 (September 30, 2004)
THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE PARKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 858373 · 2000-03-13 (March 13, 2000)
WIRING HARNESS FROM THE BATTERY TO THE FIREWALL SHORT CIRCUITED, CAUSING AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858373 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1978 | 2 |
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 0 |
1978: 2; 1980: 1; 1985: 0; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 2; 1993: 2; 1994: 0