Dodge DAYTONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
83 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
84,936 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 1993 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 83 complaints (12.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 6; Seats: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3
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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 80 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 | 36 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 36; 1996: 20; 2000: 15; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 977006 · 1995-12-27 (December 27, 1995)
AUTO-TRANSMISSION; WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION FAILED DROPPING INTO LOWER GEAR RESULTING IN COMPLETE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482114 · 1995-03-11 (March 11, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED/REPLACED. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009872 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIED ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS, WHICH WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO A STEERING MECHANISM DEFECT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE SAFETY RECORD OF CHRYSLER DODGE DAYTONA, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STEERING MECHANISM NOT OPERATING PROPERLY OR LOCKING UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960615 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)
NEED NEW RACK AND PINION AND ALMOST ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732498 · 2000-09-25 (September 25, 2000)
MY GIRLFRIEND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE.SHE STATES THE BRAKES FAILED.ON IMPACT AIRBAG DID DEPLOY.MY CONCERN IS THE FAILING OF THE BRAKES AND HER GETTING HURT, I NOTICED MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE. MAYBE NOT ALL ALIKE BUT SIMULAR.I ALSO NOTICE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE DAYTONA AS I HAD WITH MINE AND TOLERATED.TACHOMETER NOT WORKING, SURGES AND RUNS ROUGH, THEN SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP.FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS, HYDRAULIC ROD PROBLEMS ON HATCH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962931 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
PERSON IN FRONT HIT BRAKES OWNER HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AT 36 MPH AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864960 · 2000-07-07 (July 7, 2000)
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30MILES TO WORK CONSUMER SHUT THE CAR OFF AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN, OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES BACK NEAR THE MOTOR, AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIED IT AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND CAR WAS TOTALLED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726476 · 2000-08-02 (August 2, 2000)
MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALSO FUEL ING.QUIT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726476 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 |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 4 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 1 |
1984: 1; 1985: 3; 1986: 2; 1987: 1; 1988: 0; 1989: 2; 1990: 2; 1991: 4; 1992: 2; 1993: 1